Bernard Tomic has been dealt a blow as Brisbane International tournament director Cam Pearson says “it would be pretty tough” to see the former world No. 17 getting a main draw wildcard from the tournament.
The Australian, who was once regarded as one of the most promising and talented players in the game, was ranked outside the top-800 just over two years ago. However, the 32-year-old has since managed to get his career back on track by winning a couple of ITF titles – making a Challenger final this year – and climbing up to No. 214 in the world.
After a solid 2024, Tomic is preparing for the new season on the Gold Coast, and according to reports, he “would love” to get a Brisbane wildcard before the Australian Open qualifying. But unfortunately for the four-time ATP champion, the Brisbane organizers don’t seem to be too interested in making him a favor. And if that’s the case, he will have to fight for a main draw spot through qualifying.
“Rankings will determine the field for the qualifiers and a couple of wildcards as well. We haven’t made decisions on the wildcards, but I suspect it would be pretty tough to give one to him,” Brisbane tournament director Person said, via The Daily Mail.
Bernard Tomic, Fairfield Challenger 2024© Stream screenshot
Is Tomic being deliberately overlooked by Tennis Australia in wildcard selection?
It is not a secret that the 2011 Wimbledon quarterfinalist doesn’t have the best of relationships with Tennis Australia. After making several controversial remarks during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the former world No. 17 also had a major fallout with Australian legend and Davis Cup team captain Lleyton Hewitt.
For years now, Tomic hasn’t received a main draw wildcard by the Australian Open or any other ATP tournament staged in Australia. And knowing the history between the two parties, many assume that there is a very well-known reason for why that’s the case.
Going into the 2024 Australian Open, tournament director Craig Tiley indicated that the 32-year-old wouldn’t get a wildcard – and he didn’t get one. But when addressing that topic, the Australian Open boss insisted that the relationship between Tennis Australia and Tomic wasn’t the reason why he wasn’t getting any wildcards.
“It’s not so much about the relationship, but it’s about if they’re deserving. The things we consider – the form of the player coming in, there is a factor looking at age in some instances because do you want to give a younger player the opportunity versus one who’s been the journeyman for a while? We haven’t made the (wildcard) decisions in qualifying yet … we’ve made quite a few decisions on the main draw which we’ll announce in the coming days,” Tiley explained at the time.
Tomic gave an effort to bounce back and John Millman is applauding him for that
In the past, the 2011 Wimbledon quarterfinalist wasn’t known as someone who was willing to work hard or put too much effort. So when he fell outside the top-800, some thought he was done with pro tennis. But he has proved his doubters wrong and has been fighting ever since to get back to the top.
Now, he is being praised by retired Australia Millman.
“I love it. What an effort for Bernie to get back. To go out there and go through the Futures and Challengers the way he has is huge. These are really unglamorous tournaments. I think at times, he’s had to do it pretty tough – and he’s managed to come out the other side,” the former world No. 33 said.
Meanwhile, Tomic said earlier this year that he matured and that he was determined to make some noise before finishing his career.
“Of course, I have changed a lot. I have matured a little bit more. It has positively impacted my game. If I knew these things in my 20s, if I was professional and did everything that was asked of me, maybe I could have won a Grand Slam. I do not know if I did the right thing,” he told The Hindu at the start of the 2024 season.
“Whatever is meant to happen will happen. You cannot control destiny; everything happens for a reason in life. You learn to respect little things. For sure, I could have been in the top-10, but it is okay. I am in a happy space now. I will try to break into the top-100 or top-50 again and do good things in the next three years.”
Should Tomic qualify for Brisbane and the Australian Open, that would be the perfect start to the season for him and could potentially boost his chances of returning to the top-100.
Tennis World USA