Home

Australian tennis prodigy Bernard Tomic fails to qualify for Australian Open

Oliver Caffrey and Melissa WoodsThe West Australian
VideoBernard Tomic will not take part in this year's Australian Open after failing to qualify.

Controversial Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic will not feature at this year’s Australian Open, after being eliminated from qualifying.

Tomic’s hope of resurrecting his tennis career at the Open are in tatters, losing to seventh-seeded American Denis Kudla in straight sets 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in hot and smoky conditions at Melbourne Park.

A former world No.17, Tomic hoped for better 2020 after his ranking slid to 182 following a year to forget.

His match got off to a promising start on Tuesday, but the 27-year-old slowly began to wilt in the tough conditions.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Tomic called for a trainer at 1-2 in the second set to check on his breathing before eventually succumbing to defeat.

During his medical timeout, Tomic said he was struggling to breathe in the smoky conditions.

The Game AFL 2024

“No air’s going in... I’m getting tired so easy,” he was heard telling medical staff.

“I just can’t breathe.”

Later admitting he’s “not the fittest guy”, the doctor gave him an inhaler and checked his chest with a stethoscope, before clearing him to resume.

VideoThe smoke from Australia's bushfire crisis has brought Melbourne to a standstill.

But the Queenslander was unable to hold his serve and went down 1-3 which spelled the end of his challenge.

His loss came in just over an hour.

A former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, Tomic was hoping for a brighter 2020 after his ranking plummeted to 182 following a year to forget which included a hand injury.

Tomic recorded just seven wins at ATP level - none at the slams - and hasn’t played a competitive match since October.

Overlooked by Tennis Australia for a wildcard into the main draw, Tomic needed to win three sudden-death encounters to enter the season’s first grand slam starting on Monday.

Tomic wasn’t the only player to experience breathing difficulties in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic collapsed on court during a coughing fit while Eugenie Bouchard and Maria Sharapova complained about the conditions before needing medical treatment.

Earlier, former world No.39 Matthew Ebden was knocked out of qualifying in the first round.

Ebden, who dropped almost 200 places in the rankings last year to 237th, was beaten 7-5 6-4 by Italian Gianluca Mager.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails