Australian Open 2020: Bernard Tomic hopes to rebuild career

The forgotten man of Australian tennis, Bernard Tomic, is on track for the Australian Open after recovering from a bizarre injury suffered playing basketball – as he eyes a career revival.

Bernard Tomic is seen during a training session for the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Monday, January 7, 2019. The Australian Open starts on January 14. (AAP Image/David Crosling) NO ARCHIVING

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Overshadowed by the epic deeds of Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur, Bernard Tomic will attempt to rebuild a stalled career after a basketball accident wrecked the Queenslander’s 2019 season.

The junior prodigy and grand slam quarter-finalist Tomic has slipped to No.185 in the rankings after suffering ligament damage in his left hand when playing basketball in Atlanta in July.

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Bernard Tomic has had a rough year as he’s battled injury and poor form. Picture: AAP

The former world No.17’s only tournament appearance on home soil this summer is likely to be in Australian Open qualifying, which starts a week out from the January 20-February 2 grand slam.

“I tore ligaments in Atlanta playing ball,” Tomic said.

“Now I’m better, the last five-to-seven weeks.

“I played two events from August to December. I shouldn’t have played Shanghai and Stockholm.

“I couldn’t play properly since Cincinnati to the end of the year. Now my hand is better.”

Tomic was unable to properly hit double-handed backhands because of the problem.

Bernard Tomic made infrequent appearances on the court in the back half of the season. Picture: Getty

The 27-year-old will have to scrap through three qualifying rounds at Melbourne Park a year after rebuilding his ranking and a clash with Croat star Marin Cilic.

The Gold Coaster departed the 2019 Australian Open in a firestorm after a stoush with Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt turned personal with claims of threats of violence against the Wimbledon champion.

Tomic’s season was subsequently filled with a string of first-round defeats and marred by an $80,000 fine at Wimbledon for failing to meet “required professional standards” in a brief first-round loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Last year Tomic’s feud with Lleyton Hewitt (R) turned toxic. Picture: AFP

And, just as he shaped to scramble out of the form slump by reaching the Atlanta quarter-finals where he lost to de Minaur, Tomic injured his hand.

Following the accident, Tomic won just three of nine matches to finish the season with a 7-15 record.

Tomic will be joined by a host of compatriots at Melbourne Park next month when a record prizemoney pool of $71 million is on offer.

Player compensation ranges from $20,000 for first-round qualifying losers to $4.12 million for each of the singles champions.

Originally published as Australian Open 2020: Bernard Tomic hopes to rebuild career