Seventeen years after making his Australian Open debut, Bernard Tomic hit the acquainted courts once more. The previous world no. 17 returned to the house Main for the primary time since 2022 however couldn’t make it a memorable run!
Bernard suffered a 6-3, 6-1 loss to the twenty first seed Jozef Kovalik within the first qualifying spherical, ending his marketing campaign in an hour. The Slovak served at 71% and dropped 11 factors in his video games, dealing with no break factors and mounting the strain on the opposite aspect.
Tomic had nothing in his arsenal to endure and lengthen the battle. He dropped nearly half of the factors in his video games and suffered 4 breaks from six alternatives offered to his opponent. Kovalik attacked and tamed his strokes properly in a rock-solid victory.
5 ITF titles, three years and one ATP Challenger remaining later, Bernard Tomic is again on the Australian Open.
To a heat reception on Kia Area.
Dealing with no. 21 seed Jozef Kovalik in a conflict of 32-year-olds. pic.twitter.com/JMmztwfF1c
— Abigail Johnson (@abigailtennis) January 7, 2025
They served properly within the opening 4 video games of the duel. Tomic squandered a sport level at 2-2 and missed a routine forehand to drop serve and fall behind. Kovalik supplied effective holds in video games six and eight, forging a 5-3 benefit.
Bernard Tomic, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Slovak made one other push on the return within the ninth sport. He transformed the third set level after the rival’s backhand mistake for 6-3 in 32 minutes. Jozef held after deuces within the third sport of the second set and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one.
Kovalik drew Tomic’s mistake and secured a break at love, transferring 3-1 up and nearer to the end line. The Slovak held in sport 5 for 4-1 and welcomed the opponent’s backhand error within the subsequent one for an additional break and a large benefit.
Jozef served for the win at 5-1 and landed an ace down the T line to wrap up the duel in type and make a profitable begin.
