Crisis deepens for former world No. 17 Bernard Tomic ahead of US Open

BERNARD Tomic is poised to return to qualifying ranks for the first time in three years as the Queenslander’s ranking continues to free-fall.

Bernard Tomic will play a qualifying tournament for the first since 2014.

BERNARD Tomic is poised to return to qualifying ranks for the first time in three years as the Queenslander’s ranking continues to free-fall.

Having dropped from a career-high No. 17 to No. 95, Tomic has been listed as a qualifying starter at next week’s Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina.

Bernard Tomic will play a qualifying tournament for the first since 2014.

Sidelined since with motivational issues and a gashed foot since a traumatic Wimbledon exit, Tomic will return to main draw action at the August 28-September 10 US Open.

But his sinking ranking means the grand slam quarter-finalist will have to tackle qualifying for the first time since the 2014 Paris Masters if he wants to contest Winston-Salem.

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Tomic’s current ranking is his lowest since he underwent double hip surgery and dropped to No 124 in July, 2014.

Nick Kyrgios (No. 23) and Daria Gavrilova (No. 26) continue to head Australia’s rankings and both will be seeded at Flushing Meadows.

Ash Barty swept into the top 50 for the first time in her career after reaching the fourth round in Toronto after qualifying.

Alex De Minaur rose to a career-high mark of No.186m, while Sam Groth vaulted 33 places to No 174 after reaching the Aptos semi-finals.

Isabelle Wallace (Koksidje, Belgium) and Sara Tomic (Nonthaburi, Thailand) both claimed International Tennis Federation titles last week.

Originally published as Crisis deepens for former world No. 17 Bernard Tomic ahead of US Open