The Kevin Costner-inspired pep talk that helped Ajla Tomljanovic topple Serena Williams - US Open diary

Be like Kevin Costner Of all the things Ajla Tomljanovic expected her father Ratko to tell her before she stepped on Arthur Ashe stadium for her third-round match against Serena Williams, ‘Be like Kevin Costner’, was probably not one of them. Ad Tomljanovic put in an impressive and clutch performance to defeat Williams 7-5 6-7(4) 6-1 in what seems certain to be the American legend’s final singles match of her career. US Open‘We are going to remember Serena the person forever’ – Wilander pays tribute to legendAN HOUR AGO The 29-year-old Zagreb-born Australian showed great poise in brutal circumstances, as she took on Williams along with the 24,000-strong crowd that was firmly behind her.

Tomljanovic was facing the 23-time Grand Slam champion for the first time and was also making her Arthur Ashe stadium debut, in a primetime night session no less. Both of Williams’ opening two opponents had spoken about how tough it was to handle the surreal noise emanating from the stands but Tomljanovic somehow made it look easy. Her father, a former professional handball player, gave his daughter an interesting pep talk before the match.

“I was joking with her, because in my sport, when I was playing, when we played in front of away fans, I played in crazy environments,” Ratko told Eurosport on Friday night. “They were spitting on us, throwing things, even one match all the spectators went in and it was a fight. So I tried to explain to her that (what she will face against Serena) it’s nothing, it’s just cheering.