After getting her first taste of action in the green and gold during the 2019 Fed Cup final, Ajla Tomljanovic wants to wear it again in 2020 but on an even bigger stage.
26-year-old Ajla Tomljanovic defeated France's Pauline Parmentier in straight sets in her second match to enjoy her first victory as part of an Australian team.
It was the first opportunity Tomljanovic had to play for her adopted country since changing her residency from Croatia to Australia back in 2014.
She became an Australian citizen in 2018 and finally was deemed eligible to represent her new country just ahead of the 2019 Fed Cup final.
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After receiving the call from Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik that she would be picked for the final, Tomljanovic said the news motivated her because she knew that the event was 'bigger than just individual tournaments'.
"She [Alicia Molik] called me when I was in Shenzhen the day after the second to last tournament of the season," Tomljanovic told Sporting News.
"[It] was really great timing because I was feeling a little bit low and I wanted to finish strong.
"Part of me just didn’t have the fire anymore and that kinda gave me something...to look forward to which was bigger than just individual tournaments."
Tomljanovic was thrown immediately in the deep-end, picked for the first singles rubber and taking on a red-hot Kiki Mladenovic.
Despite the boisterous home crowd and fans cheering her name, it was a tough introduction to the international arena as Tomljanovic lost 6-1 6-1.
But it wasn't the result that captured her attention, as the atmosphere of representing Australia made her feel like she was at home.
"It was definitely the loudest and the most packed stadium I’ve ever played in and just the way they embraced me was incredible," Tomljanovic said of her first Fed Cup experience for Australia.
"Part of me felt like I was doing this for a longer time, the way they were behind me.
"Obviously they get behind you when you’re trying so hard on the court and representing your country with pride.
"I did it as best as I could."
Tomljanovic is now determined to make sure this isn't the last time she gets to represent Australia on the tennis court.
She has her sights on an even bigger stage, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and winning a medal for Australia.
"The Olympics are actually a really big goal of mine this year to make it and go," Tomljanovic said excitedly.
"I think my ranking is right now on the cusp, but there’s a long time until then.
"I’m really hoping that I have a strong first part of the season so that I qualify.
"It would be something I’d never forget, now that I can be eligible, I’m really excited for it."
The women's singles at the Tokyo Olympics will feature 64 players, with the top 56 players in the world to be admitted based on singles rankings at the 8th of June 2020.
With Tomljanovic currently the world number 52, that means she would be set to compete in Tokyo if the draw was carried out today.
It's clear talking to Tomljanovic that she doesn't take the opportunity to represent Australia for granted.
She feels the responsibility of playing for her new home country more than most and knows exactly what it means to play with an Australian flag on her top.
"There’s a certain pride that comes with it, when you put that green and gold jacket on," Tomljanovic said.
"I think the culture within the team we are a part of is great and that’s what makes it for me.
"The people who got behind us was the cherry on top.
"Even if we played in just some shitty indoor court with three people, I think I would still feel that pride and responsibility.
"I would want to do so well because of the team spirit I was a part of, I give them a lot of credit for that."
With five months before the Olympics draw is confirmed, Tomljanovic is determined to book her place for the tournament emphatically.
She faces the 31st seed Anastasija Sevastova in the first round of the Australian Open, a tournament where she has never gotten past the second round.
But before the Olympics, Tomljanovic will have another chance to represent Australia at the new-look Fed Cup Finals with France, Hungary, Czech Republic and the eight winning qualifiers.
You can catch part one of our chat with Ajla Tomljanovic, where she spoke about the amazing influence of Aussie world number one, Ash Barty.
