The idea of tennis federations in bidding wars to attract top young players to switch national allegiances leaves nothing but a bad taste in the mouths of tennis fans. There will undoubtedly be some who will accuse Tennis Australia and Croatian tennis player, Ajla Tomljanović of such a thing, but so far there has been no sign of such distasteful goings on.
As reported by Fairfax Media last week, Ajla Tomljanović secretly applied for Australian residency in January of this year and she will represent Australia at this month’s US Open.
The Australian media outlet reported Tomljanović’s move to representing Australia came about more from a set of circumstances and an off the cuff remark, than out of any bidding war on behalf of the national federation or any shopping around from the player herself.
According to Fairfax Ajla Tomljanović was in need of some coaching and Australian coach David Taylor, former coach of Sam Stosur, was brought in for a trial. Taylor doesn’t come cheaply and with the help of her agent, Max Eisenbud a plan evolved where Tomljanović would change allegiances, Taylor would continue coaching her and Tennis Australia would offer assistance.
Again, according to Fairfax Media, Eisenbud was at pains to state that there was no payment involved, just coaching assistance including access to sports scientists, nutritionist, etc.
In the light of no evidence that Tomljanović was in talks with anyone else, it seems reasonable to assume this version of events is fairly truthful, even if you may think me slightly naïve for thinking so.
Changing nationalities actually isn’t that unusual for those of us from Australia or dare I generalise, other Commonwealth Countries. The Commonwealth Games have just wrapped up in Scotland and it was incredibly common to hear commentators inform us that any number of the athletes competing had changed countries for one reason or another.
Australia is a land of immigrants and this is very much reflected in our tennis players.
Mark Philippoussis is of Greek descent, as is Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, who is Greek/Malaysian. Bernard Tomic was born in Germany to Croatian parents and they immigrated to Australia when Bernard was three.
Olivia Rogowska is of Polish descent, and Jarmila Gajdošová was born in Slovakia before becoming an Australian citizen. Jelena Dokic is possibly our most well known player who has represented Australia as well as representing what was then Yugoslavia, now Serbia and Montenegro.
There is also, Anastasia Rodionova who represented Russia until 2009 and her sister, Arina who starting representing Australia this year.
The point is, in Australia coming from somewhere else really isn’t all that unusual.
Even our football icon, Tim Cahill could have chosen to play for England, Ireland or Samoa, but he went with the land of his birth. I guess that’s a little how it is in Australia.
The key to Tomljanović’s successful move to playing for Australia will rest in her genuine desire to represent her new country, even if the initial reasons for the shift were to further her career. She also has family here and hopefully that will strengthen her connection to her new home.
One of the issues this move raises though, is where to for Australia’s young up and coming female talent?
Australian men’s tennis is the healthiest it’s been for at least a decade. We are seeing the men engaged in a healthy competition that is fostering better results.
With Ajla becoming Australia’s number three tennis player at the US Open can we expect to see similar healthy competition amongst the girls or will there be quiet rumblings about the move?
Regardless of what Eisenbud says about no money being involved in Tomljanović’s move, the reality is, funding for tennis is a finite resource. If not handled correctly, animosity and resentment may creep in, which would be devastating for our female tennis players.
Fairfax Media has done a good job in reporting this move as a positive one that doesn’t reek of anything sinister, such as buying players, but it will be up to Tennis Australia to ensure that the transition for Ajla and the other Aussie girls will be smooth.
The Australian public has proved itself open to embracing athletes who choose to call our land home and let’s hope this tradition continues for Ajla Tomljanović.
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