Bernard Tomic saves five match points in a row for unlikely tennis win over Lajal in Morella

Bernard Tomic is shaking off his reputation for giving up in tennis matches after saving a remarkable five match points in a row to win after being down 1-6 in a final tiebreaker.

Bernard Tomic has shaken off his reputation for tanking tennis matches by saving five match points in a row to complete a zany comeback win in his latest career revival bid overseas.

Tomic was down 1-6 in the final set tiebreaker of his round of 16 match against 205th-ranked Estonian Mark Lajal when he somehow won the next seven points in a row to complete a highly unlikely 6-2 3-6 7-6 (6) win.

It sends him into a quarter final showdown at the Challenger at Morella, his biggest match so far in 2025, where he’ll face 204th-ranked Frenchan Hugo Grenier.

Among commenters on social media about his head-popping comeback, one wrote: “He seems to be working hard finally. I hope he makes it.”

Tomic has revived his ailing career to sit at 213 in the live rankings, a far cry from 825 and near career oblivion just over two years ago.

Bernard Tomic has saved a remarkable five match points in a row and won the final seven points of his match at Morella after being down 1-6 in the final set tiebreaker to complete an unlikely comebasck. Picture: Steve Pohlner

In an exclusive interview with the Bulletin in January whilst playing a Brisbane event, he said he not only still believed he could crack the top 100 again, but has his sights on more grand slam appearances, namely his favoured Wimbledon.

“I didn’t play a lot of tennis for three or four years, at 25, 26 I hit a brick wall mentally and didn’t want to travel to play,” Tomic reflected in the interview.

“I was going through the motions, it took me a couple of years after Covid to get fit and play matches again. You lose two or three years, you need two years to get back, you’re not 20 years old anymore.

“To finish the year in the top 100 would be great. A lot has changed in tennis - my expectations can’t be too high. I have to be realistic. You have to work for it.

Asked what motivated him to keep playing, he said: “It keeps me alive, keeps me sane, gives me something to do. Without tennis you lose your purpose. I’m trying to figure it out, get back.”

Originally published as Bernard Tomic saves five match points in a row for unlikely tennis win over Lajal in Morella