A shattered Ajla Tomljanovic admits the nerves of debuting in a Fed Cup final had proved too much after being taught a lesson by French opponent Kristina Mladenovic.
Tomljanovic had no answers for a red-hot Mladenovic during a 6-1 6-1 drubbing in Saturday’s opening singles rubber in Perth.
The Australian battled with her serve and managed just two winners for the match, as world No.40 Mladenovic guided France to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five final.
Having become eligible to represent Australia just weeks earlier, Croatia-born Tomljanovic was picked ahead of Samantha Stosur – Australia’s most-successful Fed Cup player – to back up world No.1 Ashleigh Barty in the singles.
But the world No.51’s nerves were obvious throughout despite having a near-capacity RAC Arena crowd rallying behind her.
“It’s not something you can really explain,” Tomljanovic said.
“It’s just a feeling that I had, even walking out for the ceremony. It’s really unique – you’re not playing for yourself. You’re playing for the whole country, for your teammates. You’re playing for something way more than you play all year.
“That’s just my personality. I want it even more when it’s for others and for my teammates and my country.”
Both teams have the option of changing their nominated players for Sunday’s reverse singles, with Tomljanovic scheduled to play Caroline Garcia.
It remains to be seen whether team captain Alicia Molik will opt to substitute with the more-experienced Stosur.
“If I’m in a position (to play), I definitely feel like I can,” Tomljanovic said when asked whether she felt she could bounce back on Sunday.
“It’s tennis. Anything can happen.
“I definitely think I will kind of know what to expect more from how I’m feeling.”