Sobering reminder of how far Bernard Tomic has to go

Bernard Tomic has grand plans to return to his lofty former heights, but there’s a major Australian Open stumbling block.

Bernard Tomic will need multiple player withdrawals to contest Australian Open qualifying in January or for Tennis Australia to forgive his past sins and hand him a wildcard.

The former world No.17 and 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finalist is on something of a charm offensive this summer as he plots a path back to the top of the sport.

But 259th-ranked Tomic is the 10th alternate for qualifying at Melbourne Park in a reminder of the challenge ahead of him.

He is recovering from a finger ligament injury but has hired a fitness trainer and planned a five-week preparation for the tournament to try to replicate his effort of qualifying and winning a round this year.

Bernard Tomic says he is committed to working hard to try to climb back up the ATP rankings. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I’m feeling good. I’m going to try and turn this around and give myself the best chance in the next couple of years,” Tomic told News Corp this month.

“I’ve got one more chance at this. I’ll try and do it for myself.”

There are eight main draw wildcards still to be announced, so Tomic will be far closer to the qualifying cut-off by the time they are released and is as good as certain to get in.

Three-time grand slam champion and five-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray does not appear on the qualifying list in the best sign yet that TA has guaranteed him a wildcard entry.

Thanasi Kokkinakis is entered in Australian Open qualifying but is a strong contender for a main draw wildcard. Picture: AFP

Leading Australian wildcard contenders Alex Bolt, Aleks Vukic, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Chris O’Connell, Max Purcell, Marc Polmans and Jason Kubler are all entered in qualifying.

Four of them are expected to receive a wildcard, while one-time world No.10 Lucas Pouille is in qualifying but won’t have to play because the French Tennis Federation awarded him its reciprocal wildcard.

The American recipient of the reciprocal wildcard, Stefan Kozlov, has not entered qualifying.

Matt Ebden and Andrew Harris are the other Australian hopes in the men’s qualifying draw, with more to receive wildcard spots in the coming weeks.

Storm Sanders, Maddison Inglis, Arina Rodionova, Lizette Cabrera, Ellen Perez and Priscilla Hon are in women’s qualifying, with Seone Mendez the first alternate and certain to come in.

Originally published as Sobering reminder of how far Bernard Tomic has to go