Ajla Tomljanovic has revealed how "surreal" it feels to have tennis legend Chris Evert inspiring her on her latest ground-breaking Wimbledon adventure.
And Australia's No.1 women's player, who's reached the quarter-finals for the second year in a row, has, in turn, been supporting 18-time grand slam champion Evert in her battle against cancer.
Tomljanovic feels "blessed" that the great American - her Florida neighbour, mentor and close friend - sent her inspirational messages before and after the fourth-round win over Alize Cornet on Monday.
She's also humbled that the 67-year-old three-time Wimbledon champ has been backing her even while fighting a six-month battle with stage 1 ovarian cancer.
Evert, back at Wimbledon on Sunday as part of the parade of champions celebrating the centenary of centre court, revealed recently that she'd completed her sixth and final chemotherapy session in May with a successful outcome.
"Over the past few months we've been talking more than ever. She's been there for me this year a lot. It's been so nice," said Tomljanovic, when asked by AAP about her long-time special relationship with the US great.
"Like, I kind of felt at one point bad. She was going through something. If you want to talk about problems in life, that's something that's scary.
"I remember one time telling her, 'Oh, my gosh, I don't want to bother you with my problems because you're doing something way harder'.
"She's like, 'No, no, I love, in a way, the distraction'.
"We love each other, so we were there for each other in that way."
Before her victory over Cornet, Tomljanovic - who's had self-belief problems down the years - got a timely pep talk message from Evert.
"She texted me that she believes in me and that I need to believe that I belong here," said Tomljanovic.
"She called me right away afterwards too. She repeated, like, three times, 'Ajla, you're in the quarter-finals again!'
"I think she repeated it because I wasn't saying much - I was just kind of laughing at her.
"It's like surreal. Chris Evert is calling me after I made the quarters! To me, she's just Chrissie. I'm very blessed to have her in my corner."
Evert told the 29-year-old battler how happy she was for her.
"She said, 'I actually do believe that you're here because you always work hard'," said Tomljanovic.
"Like one of the hardest workers that she's seen, but there was always something missing for that extra step.
"She's just so thrilled that I'm doing it now."
Last year, Tomljanovic got to the quarters of a slam for the first time, but ran into the inspired Ash Barty, who was en route to the title.
This year, she faces Elena Rybakina, the big-hitting 17th seed from Kazakhstan and plans to have a face-to-face chat with Evert before seeking to reach a major semi-final for the first time.
Australian Associated Press
