Bernard Tomic’s try to return to the Grand Slam circuit has seen him smashed off the courtroom in an embarrassing straight-sets loss at Melbourne’s Kia Area on Tuesday.
The previous world No.17 wanted to win three straight sudden-death matches to qualify for the Australian Open however fell on the first hurdle, happening 6-3, 6-1 to Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik, who’s ranked 128 on the planet.
Tomic’s heavy defeat comes after he additionally endured a horror loss when he contested his first event last for six years, happening 6-0, 6-1 in simply 39 minutes to America’s Learner Tien within the Fairfield Challenger in San Francisco final October.
That loss set a world file for the quickest defeat in an Affiliation of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger Occasion.
Tomic – who’s presently ranked 214th on the planet – final performed in his dwelling Grand Slam in 2021 and has by no means made it additional than the fourth spherical in his 11 appearances on the event.
Final yr Tomic earned $101,170 taking part in in Challenger and Future occasions in spots reminiscent of Wichita, Little Rock and Calabasas.
Tomic – as soon as ranked seventeenth on the planet – crashed out of the qualifiers for the Australian Open on Tuesday in embarrassing vogue
The polarising Aussie was wiped off the courtroom in simply 61 minutes as he fell to a straight-sets loss to Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik
The information wasn’t any higher for Cruz Hewitt (pictured), who additionally went out in straight units – however not like Tomic, the 16-year-old could have many extra probabilities to play his dwelling Grand Slam
The 32-year-old would have greater than doubled that in a single week if he’d qualifies for the Open to safe a minimal $132,000 payday for even shedding within the first spherical.
Cruz Hewitt’s hopes of reaching the Australian Open foremost draw suffered an enormous blow on Tuesday at Melbourne Park after the 16-year-old prodigy was overwhelmed by former world No 16 Nikoloz Basilashvili in two units.
It was a momentous day for the Hewitt household, with Cruz stepping out onto Courtroom 3 at Melbourne Park, almost 30 years after his father certified for his first Australian Open.
It got here as attentions this week have been diverted away from the star’s a lot anticipated Australian Open qualifying debut after Nick Kyrgios revealed a put up on social media that appeared to criticise Hewitt’s determination to share a follow hit with Jannik Sinner.
The Italian has caught the ire of Kyrgios in latest months after he failed two exams for a banned substance however has prevented a suspension, however the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) is ready to enchantment the choice subsequent yr.
Hewitt took to Instagram to share shared footage of Sinner and himself getting ready for the event this week.
However Kyrgios was fast to answer to the snaps, writing: ‘Love ya Cruz however that is wild.’ He later added: ‘Cooked put up’ earlier than showing to minimize the incident claiming his feedback have been a joke between two buddies.
Hewitt gave his followers loads of causes to count on he’ll in the future face the game’s largest stars in Melbourne regardless of his defeat on Tuesday
On Tuesday, Hewitt quashed any doubts over his skills or claims of favouritism, regardless of struggling a two-set defeat. Some have questioned whether or not final yr’s Newcombe Medallist had been gifted a qualifying berth due to his dad’s stature within the sport.
He had beforehand addressed these claims of favouritism stating: ‘It’s what it’s, however I do not actually thoughts. It simply drives me to be higher.’
And Hewitt seemingly put a lot of these claims to mattress, showcasing his accuracy, thumping serve and tennis intelligence at instances in the course of the match to ask questions of an opponent who has far higher expertise taking part in on the high stage than him.
In entrance of a packed enviornment of dwelling supporters, who didn’t cease cheering for the younger star all through the match, Hewitt, who ranks at 1263 on the ATP Tour, impressed as he scrapped exhausting in opposition to the previous world No.16.
Whereas he struggled to fend off the Georgian’s assault, together with his 32-year-old opponent serving out to like a number of instances within the opening set, Hewitt shocked followers together with his first serve of the match, rattling a monstrous stroke into the far nook of the field for an ace.
The Georgian is trying to qualify for his ninth berth in the primary draw this week and received his Australian Open qualifying marketing campaign off to an excellent begin, taking a 5-0 lead within the first set in opposition to Hewitt.
However Hewitt would not be overwhelmed to like, combating again late within the first set, forcing an error from Basilashvili with a superbly weighted strike to the baseline to drag a sport again of his personal.
Lleyton Hewitt (left) is pictured watching his son, almost 30 years after he certified for his first Australian Open
Even with the gang behind him chanting ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi,’ the primary set was too far out of Hewitt’s grasp at this level, however using excessive on a lift at having nicked a sport off his opponent, Hewitt bounced again within the second set, claiming a large break level at 2-1, outclassing his 32-year-old opponent with a brilliantly timed backhand.
Sadly for the younger Aussie, he couldn’t take the chance to take a foothold, failing to carry his personal serve earlier than being overwhelmed 3-2.
Whereas he was down, he was most actually not giving up, with Hewitt once more forcing Basilashvili to dig deep, saving two break factors at 4-2.
The Georgian struggled to interrupt Hewitt within the ensuing change however turned on the fuel serving out to like, earlier than clinching victory and a spot within the second spherical of qualifying with a 6-4 win.
For Hewitt, it is going to be again to the drafting board, however there will probably be loads of positives to remove from this match.
Developing in opposition to a seasoned ATP Tour participant, the teen actually held his personal and impressed patrons round Courtroom 3 by transferring Basilashvili across the courtroom with some wonderful pictures.
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