Australian Open: Wildcard options aplenty but Bernard Tomic has likely blown his chance

BERNARD Tomic’s Davis Cup record alone would, alongside a more committed approach, make him worthy of an Australian Open wildcard. But not in the present circumstances.

Bernard Tomic failed to participate in the wildcard play-off earlier this month.

SOME time over the next week, Tennis Australia’s performance powerbrokers will effectively make a choice between past, present and future.

To most, there is no option. Australia must embrace its tennis youth and, regardless of consequence, hand its two remaining Australian Open men’s singles wildcards to the future.

Unfortunately for Lleyton Hewitt, Jason Stoltenberg and Wally Masur, that stance will lead to collateral, but justifiable, damage.

Bernard Tomic failed to participate in the wildcard play-off earlier this month.

For reasons best known to himself, Bernard Tomic opted not to contest Tennis Australia’s wildcard play-off.

Had he bothered to travel to Melbourne, train and test form and fitness in a best-of-five-set format, he might have already secured a maindraw berth next month.

But the former junior prodigy and world No 17 effectively couldn’t find the motivation to jump on a flight from the Gold Coast.

In the absence of injury, Tomic seemingly has turned his back on an excellent opportunity to repatriate himself into the Hewitt’s support network.

Given the way Australian tennis operates, his self-imposed Cup exile and continued estrangement means he won’t get a wildcard.

His Davis Cup record alone would, alongside a more conciliatory and committed approach, make the Queenslander worthy of a discretionary invitation.

But not in the present circumstances.

If Hewitt and co take a long-term view, there will be hard luck stories.

This year, Sam Groth - one of the sport’s enduring success stories and a thoroughly deserving recipient of a wildcard - is retiring at the Open.

Will Sam Groth get a wildcard for his final tournament?

He’s partnering Hewitt in doubles and, all being well, Sam Stosur in mixed doubles.

As a Davis Cup loyalist and Newcombe medallist, sentiment and service should play a part.

True to form, Groth is not expecting a wildcard.

With Alex De Minaur (playoff winner), Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex Bolt (playoff finalist) already in the main draw, the next player in would have been Akira Santillan.

Sadly, the Queenslander won’t contest the Open because of a serious back injury.

In rankings order, the next players to be considered are John Patrick Smith, 28, Andrew Whittington, 24, and Groth, 30.

Then comes Omar Jasika, 20, and Max Purcell, 19.

In the current setting, will selectors plumb completely for the future or reward the departing Groth or the industrious Smith?

The only certainty is that Tomic, fifth-highest behind Nick Kyrgios, is on again on the outer.

And, as always, there is no simple solution in a complex situation.

Originally published as Australian Open: Wildcard options aplenty but Bernard Tomic has likely blown his chance