Birmingham finalist Tomljanovic awarded wildcard for Wimbledon 2024 | June 24, 2024 | All news | News and Features | news and events

After finishing runner-up in Birmingham, Ajla Tomljanovic receives the final women’s singles wildcard for Wimbledon 2024.

Birmingham, UK, 24 June 2024 | Leigh Rogers

Ajla Tomljanovic’s impressive run at a WTA 250 tournament in Birmingham this week has not gone unnoticed.

The 31-year-old Australian beat four top-60 opponents to reach her first tournament-level singles final in more than five years before Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva denied her bid for a maiden title WTA singles.

Despite the 6-1 7-6(8) loss to world number 41 Putintseva, Tomljanovic was proud of her efforts.

“I’m very happy to have reached the final, considering how my last 18 months have been,” said world No. 190 Tomljanovic, who underwent knee surgery in 2023 and was then sidelined by a uterine procedure at the start of this season.

“I think there’s still a lot I can improve on, but the great thing is that all week I’ve been able to find ways to win even when my back was against the wall, and that’s a skill in itself that I have. I always tried to develop more.”

Tomljanovic showed her tenacious spirit in the final, where she came back from a 1-6 0-2 deficit. She almost extended the match into a deciding set, holding several set points in a tense finish to the second set.

“It’s never easy to lose in a final, but I did my best today,” Tomljanovic admitted.

Tomljanovic’s spirits soon lifted as Wimbledon awarded her the final singles wildcard in the main draw.

The two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist entered the Grand Slam tournament with a protected ranking of 33rd in the world. However, receiving a wildcard means Tomljanovic can now save her protected ranking, which can only be used in a limited number of events, for later in the season.

“I feel good about Wimbledon,” said Tomljanovic, winner of 19 of her last 25 grass-court singles matches.

“I have some time (now) to take care of my body, be fit and feel fresh.”

Aussies in action – Birmingham

result
women’s singles, final
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) d Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-1 7-6(8)

Find your way to play: Visit play.tennis.com.get out on the court and have fun!