Young Aussies restore some pride after Bernard Tomic 'embarrassment'
Ajla Tomljanovic and Jordan Thompson have provided some welcome good news for Australian tennis fans just hours after Bernard Tomic’s ‘embarrassing’ display in New York.
Tomic was widely condemned on Monday after he was bounced out of qualifying for the New York Open in just 39 minutes.
Somehow it wasn’t the fastest loss of Tomic’s career after a 28-minute effort against Jarkko Nieminen back in 2014.
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The controversial Aussie lost 6-2, 6-1 to World No.112 Go Soeda on Tuesday, winning just five of 33 points on his opponent’s serve.
He’s now failed to qualify for 12 of his last 13 tournaments.
The limp display caught the eye of a number of international tennis journalists and was slammed by fed-up fans.
However Tomljanovic and Thompson did their best to restore the image of Australian tennis on Tuesday, producing hard-fought wins in St Petersberg and New York respectively.
Tomljanovic and Thompson restore some pride
Tomljanovic produced the shock of the day at the WTA's St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy with a hard-fought win over fifth-seeded Marketa Vondrousova.
World No.57 Tomljanovic came back from a set down on Tuesday to prevail 3-6 6-3 6-4.
The 26-year-old will next face Russian teenager Anastasia Potapova, ranked 44 spots below Tomljanovic, with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile one break of serve was enough for Thompson as he advanced to the second round in New York with victory over Ivo Karlovic.
World No.63 Thompson proved too consistent for big-serving Croatian veteran Karlovic and won through 6-3 7-6 (7-2).
A solid serving performance, which included six aces, helped Thompson keep his 40-year-old opponent at bay.
Next up for the 25-year-old is another big-serving challenge in American top seed John Isner.
That’s a big win for Jordan Thompson in New York. Takes out big-serving Ivo Karlovic on the blackmjndoor hard court and gets the top seed and another giant in John Isner on Thursday at the Nassau Coliseum.
— Ash Marshall (@AMarshallSport) February 11, 2020
Very nice match in St Peters between Vondrousova and Tomljanovic. And a good win for Ajla.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 11, 2020
What a win for Tomljanovic!
— genieb (@_acechard) February 11, 2020
Tomic’s torrid time
Overlooked by Tennis Australia for a wildcard into the Australian Open, Tomic also bombed out in qualifying at Melbourne Park last month.
Struggling with breathing issues, Tomic was dismissed by seventh-seeded American Denis Kudla in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in hot and smoky conditions.
A former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, Tomic was hoping for a brighter 2020 after his ranking plummeted to 182 following a year to forget which included a hand injury.
Tomic recorded just seven wins at ATP level in 2019 - none at grand slam level.
Oh my. https://t.co/OUIuhWMflr
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 10, 2020
Tomic is an absolute embarrassment. Why does the guy even bother to show up for matches anymore?
— Red Clay Mistress (@tennismistress) February 10, 2020
How do you get beat that fast as a professional
— NobleSavage 007 (@SwissFaryGodBro) February 10, 2020
Always with Tomic. Just give him a check and he's outa there!
— Susi Sanchez (@SanchSus7) February 10, 2020
Bernie Tomic bombs out in qualifying at the New York Open. That's 12 of the last 13 qualifying comps he has failed to make it out of in order to reach the main draw. At least he is in the city that never sleeps hey as Bernard often boasts that he likes to party no matter what. pic.twitter.com/rwtbf5YLju
— Kevin Pollard (@football_roos) February 11, 2020
with AAP
