Ajla Tomljanovic Shocks French Open with Dramatic Comeback Win After Injury Layoff

H2: Australian Star Ajla Tomljanović Targets Third-Round Return at French Open 2025 Ajla Tomljanović will stride onto Court Philippe-Chatrier today looking to extend her resurgent Roland-Garros run when she meets No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini in a blockbuster second-round clash. The 32-year-old Queenslander is chasing her deepest Paris campaign since 2022 and arrives brimming with confidence after dismantling teenage compatriot Maya Joint 6-1 6-3 in Monday’s opener. H2: Comeback Story Fuels Momentum Tomljanović missed most of 2023 with knee surgery and dealt with recurring shoulder soreness through 2024, but her trademark grit has returned in 2025. She captured February’s Hua Hin 250 title, cracked back inside the WTA top 60 and now owns a 16-7 season record on clay—her best ever on the surface. “I finally trust my body again,” she told reporters after round one, adding that long practice blocks in Barcelona sharpened her movement on red dirt. H2: Tactical Keys vs. Jasmine Paolini Paolini’s heavy topspin forehand and superior foot speed make her a formidable favourite, yet Tomljanović leads their head-to-head 2-1 and owns the only previous clay-court meeting. Expect the Australian to attack second serves early, target Paolini’s backhand wing, and shorten points with the inside-out forehand that produced 24 winners against Joint. Holding serve will be crucial: Paolini ranks third on tour in return-games-won this year, while Tomljanović enters with a 71 % first-serve-points-won clip on clay. H2: What’s at Stake A victory would propel Tomljanović into the third round in Paris for the fourth time and set up a potential showdown with No. 15 seed Daria Kasatkina. It would also boost her live ranking to approximately No. 42, moving her closer to a Wimbledon seeding. More importantly, it would signal that the injuries and setbacks that derailed her past two seasons are firmly in the rear-view mirror. H2: Match Time, How to Watch and Betting Odds • Court: Philippe-Chatrier (third match, not before 2:00 pm local) • TV & Streaming (Australia): Nine, Stan Sport • Odds: Paolini 1.45 | Tomljanović 2.75 (average of major bookmakers as of 10:00 GMT) Fans in Australia can also follow live scores via the Tennis Australia Match Centre. H2: Social Buzz and Fan Reaction Tomljanović’s first-round win sparked an outpouring of praise on social media, with former doubles partner Ash Barty tweeting “Vintage Ajla!” and Australian great Rennae Stubbs calling the performance “as clean as it gets.” The hashtag #TeamAjla trended nationwide, underscoring growing optimism that she can reprise her 2022 Wimbledon semifinal magic on the Paris clay. H2: Outlook If Tomljanović replicates her aggressive first-strike tennis and manages to keep rallies short, an upset is well within reach. Either way, her revived form is one of the feel-good stories of French Open 2025—and proof that persistence still pays off on tennis’s grandest stages.