Bernard Tomic flames out of Australian Open qualifying in straight sets defeat

Bernard Tomic’s Australian Open is over before it began – with the divisive star bundled out of qualifying in a straight sets shambles in an hour in qualifying.

Bernard Tomic’s Australian Open is over before it begun. Picture: Tony Gough

Bernard Tomic’s hopes of a first Australian Open appearance in three years have been dashed after he was swept out of the first round of qualifying in straight sets.

Tomic was comfortably dealt with by Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 3-6, 1-6 in just 61 minutes on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old had dragged his ranking from No.825 in 2022 all the way to No.213 before the Aus Open qualifying, but he was comfortably outclassed by Kovalik.

Tomic declined to talk to media after his match and he walked away with $35,000 as a loser in the first-round of qualifying.

The Queenslander offered a couple of waves to the crowd and signed two autographs on his way down the tunnel off court and out of the Open.

Tomic had dragged his ranking back from being ranked 825th in the world. Picture: Tony Gough

The volatile former world No.17 kept his emotions in check for most of the match, despite at one point asking punters in the front row for advice and bowing down comically as Kovalik moved him around the court.

He was warmly backed by a patriotic crowd in a quarter-full Kia Arena but there was little for the Australian fans to cheer about.

Tomic battled for power on his forehand and showed some signs of his trademark deft touch through the match but only hit seven winners to Kovalik’s 26.

Tomic hasn’t appeared in the main Aus Open draw since 2021, his last appearance at any slam.

As part of his attempted comeback to the world top 100, the former Wimbledon quarter finalist made his first tour final in six years at the Fairfield Challenger in August but was pushed aside in that match in just 39 minutes.