'Quite sad': Bernard Tomic suffers new low in French Open horror show
Aussie Bernard Tomic has suffered a terrible First Round qualifying loss at Roland Garros to teenage World No.1034 Arthur Fils.
The local 16-year-old wildcard, whose previous best win on the ATP Tour was against a World No.333, defeated Tomic 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in a rain-interrupted day at Roland Garros.
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World No.213 Tomic, among 12 Australians attempting to earn a spot in the second grand slam of 2021, was one of the most high-profile players to be ousted on Monday.
The two-hour come from behind victory for Fils was the biggest win of his young career.
However, it marks a tough outing for the 28-year-old Tomic who was once as high as World No.17.
Fans went on to hail Fils, but also slam the Aussie for his massive drop off in the tennis world.
Bernard Tomic loses to a 16yo French at Roland Garros.
Kid is very talented, though. https://t.co/GR98PFfMbO— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 24, 2021
16-year-old French wildcard Arthur Fils takes out Bernard Tomic 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 6-3 to reach the second round of Roland Garros qualifying.
Gets another Aussie next: Bolt or Polmans!— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) May 24, 2021
A great moment for 16-year-old @ArthurFils1 - He advances to the 2nd round of qualifying at #RolandGarros having defeated former world #17 Bernard Tomic 6-7 7-6 6-3. https://t.co/jLNeHvhwrt
— Tennis Europe (@TennisEurope) May 24, 2021
Bernard Tomic has to be the biggest waste of tennis potential in the sports history right?
— StraightTalkSports (@StraightTalkSp1) May 24, 2021
Bernard Tomic once ranked in the top 20 loses to a 16 y old French player ranked out side 2000 !! It’s quite Sad really !!
— Ghassan Slailati (@GSlailati) May 24, 2021
Let's be clear about what happened here:
Tomic lost to a player who is 7-11 (7-10 on clay) in his career.
Not on the ATP tour. Not on the Challenger Tour. 7-10 on clay on the FUTURES tour. With a previous best win against a player ranked 333.
Bernard Tomic, everybody!— Bill (@Bill_LessThan3) May 24, 2021
Tomic in bizarre umpire exchange
Commentators also noted a bizarre exchange between Tomic and the umpire following a set where the Australian appeared to forget the rules and question the umpire on who was serving next.
Moore: "No. You were going to serve first in the tie break."
Tomic: "That means he serves now. Okay check it. New balls now?"
Moore: "No."— Beta (@sPETEcore) May 24, 2021
Tomic has now lost 7 of his last 11 matches since making the Second Round at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Despite the drama, Fils was thrilled with his victory.
'I think clay is my favourite surface. I love it because it gives me time and I can play more with my forehand," Fils told RolandGarros.com.
"Every match is a fight and I love it. I think I only lost two matches on clay in juniors."
Fils will next meet another Australian, Marc Polmans, who accounted for his countryman Alex Bolt 6-3 3-6 6-3.
World No.208 Aleksandar Vukic advanced to the second round with a 6-3 6-1 thumping of Portuguese Frederico Ferreira Silva.
Thanasi Kokkinakis, fresh from his Challenger tour triumph in Italy, will step up his burgeoning comeback with a tough opener on Tuesday against American Mackenzie McDonald while Matt Ebden will also be in action.
Arina Rodionova, who enjoyed her best grand slam performance at Roland Garros when reaching the third round six years ago, crashed out to India's Ankita Raina 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
with AAP
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