TENNIS ROLAND GARROS – A magnificent performance from unseeded Croat Ajla Tomljanovic stunned Philippe Chatrier’s spectators and third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, giving her the first slam fourth round of her career. Giulio Gasparin
The 21 year-old from Zagreb, who recently fought back from a severe form of glandular fever, played a superb match to take down the highest seed left in the draw after the departures of Li Na and Serena Williams.
Radwanska, who has never gone beyond a quarter final in Paris, struggled to cope with the pace of Tomljanovic shots, as well as with her sudden changes of spin and drop shots.
The score could have been much harsher than the final 6-4 6-3, as the Pole seemed unable to hurt her opponent with any of her usual weapons from the very beginning of the match.
The Croat was clearly not intimidated by the big stadium, nor the fame of her opponent as she started the first set with a clear idea of how to dismantle the third seed’s game.
Her big serve gave little chances to Radwanska, while her return and solid yet aggressive base-line game dictated most of the points.
In what felt like a eye blink, Tomljanovic found herself 5-1 up in the first set.
The young Croat then suffered the comeback of Radwanska, who first managed to hold serve with ease and then finally broke her opponent, at what was only the second chance in the set.
The third seed got another important hold that forced Tomljanovic to serve for the set again, but this time she kept the calm, found her strong first serve and seized the first set.
Strong of a massive boost of confidence, the Croat started the second set by breaking the Pole’s serve and holding with authority.
This early break ended up being decisive as both players held their serves from that moment on.
What really impressed of the Croat’s match was the ability to mix up her powerful strokes with slices, top spins and smart choices.
In a way she out-radwanska-ed Radwanska: she neutralised her variety by being the one always in control of the point, she changed pace and direction continuously and she also was the most solid of the two.
The surface was clearly not in favour of the Pole, whose shots simply lack the power to hurt as they sit up on the wet clay, but the constant pressure of the Croat made Radwanska miss more than she generally does, in the attempt of turning the match.
Another impressive trait showed by Tomljanovic was the final ability to cope with nerves, in a way I have never seen anyone doing.
Some players do not feel the pressure, which is a different story, but she clearly was nervous in the last game. Instead of panicking, she adjusted her game, added spin to her forehand and forced Radwanska to miss.
For the young Croat it is the best win of her career so far and now she is waiting for her next opponent to come from a clash between Carla Suarez Navarro and Taylor Townsend.
The next match will give a place in the quarter finals of this surprising edition of Roland Garros.
