$1000 per minute: Bernard Tomic cashes in on French Open farce

Bernard Tomic and John Millman will both leave the French Open $75,000 richer, despite a massive difference in time spent on court and effort shown.

While Millman showed incredible guts and determination to push World No.5 Alexander Zverev in a five-set thriller that lasted just over four hours, Tomic bombed out in just 82 minutes against Taylor Fritz.

Millman pushed the German 22-year-old to breaking point on centre court in Paris, clawing back from two sets down before losing 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 2-6 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old was the antithesis of countryman Tomic, who played like he had an early dinner date on the Champs-Elysees, falling 6-1 6-4 6-1 in weak fashion.

Millman had just begun his second set when Tomic was justifying his efforts to the media.

But both men will receive $75,000 in prize money for their first round exits, although Tomic could be facing a fine under the French Open’s “best effort” rule.

Should he keep his full purse, he will have made just under $1000 per minute for his 82-minute farce.

Not all bad news

Meanwhile, young Aussies Jordan Thompson and Priscilla Hon helped Australia to their equal-best French Open start since 1990.

Thompson beat lucky loser Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on a windswept Tuesday, dodging Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime (groin) after his late withdrawal.

Davidovich Fokina boasted the recent scalp of Gael Monfils but the Australian dominated 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to join Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin in the next round.

He will next play big-serving 40-year-old Ivo Karlovic, who beat Thompson in five sets at the same stage three years ago and on Tuesday became the oldest player to win at Roland Garros since 1973.

Thompson joins young Australian pair Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur in the last 64, both of who will play their second round matches on Wednesday.

Wildcard Hon will join Samantha Stosur and Ashleigh Barty in the second round after a 3-6 6-2 6-1 comeback win over Timea Babos - her first in the Roland Garros main draw.

Daria Gavrilova, whose thigh was heavily strapped, was forced to retire while trailing in the second set 6-3 2-2 to Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, while Matthew Ebden was felled by French qualifier Gregoire Barrerre in four sets.

Only a dogged fightback from defending champion Simona Halep stopped Ajla Tomljanovic from being one of seven Australians through.

The size of the country's second round contingent instead equals the six of 2015.

HOW THE AUSSIES FARED ON DAY THREE (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):

* Taylor Fritz (USA) d Bernard Tomic 6-1 6-4 6-1

* 5-Alexander Zverev (GER) d John Millman 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 2-6 6-7 (7-5) 6-3

* Jordan Thompson d Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3)

* Priscilla Hon d Timea Babos (HUN) 3-6 6-2 6-1

* Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) d Daria Gavrilova 6-3 2-2 (ret)

* Gregoire Barrerre (FRA) d Matt Ebden 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-1

* 3-Simona Halep (ROU) d Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 3-6 6-1

AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY FOUR

* 21-Alex de Minaur v Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)

* Alexei Popyrin v 31-Laslo Djere (SRB).

with AAP