Bernard Tomic’s record-setting run at the Australian Open ends as he’s denied a qualifying wildcard

Bernard Tomic’s colorful and record-breaking 15-year streak at the Australian Open ended after the fallen star was passed over for a qualifying wild card.

Languishing at No. 462 in the rankings but still very active on the court, the former World No. 17 has been a fixture at the Melbourne Park Grand Slam every January since 2008.

But he will not be around when qualifying begins on Monday after Tennis Australia opted for the juniors and promised Tomic’s experience and credentials, over 30, by awarding seven wild cards to his fellow Aussies.

Despite his spectacular fall from grace, Tomic is still ranked above four of the wild card winners, including world number 1017, 18-year-old Derek Pham.

But the former prodigy and two-time junior Grand Slam champion is seven years older than the oldest wild-card winner, Adam Walton, world number 432.

Bernard Tomic’s 15-year streak at the Australian Open ended after the fallen star was passed over for a qualifying wild card (pictured with girlfriend Keely Hannah)

World number 462 has been overlooked by players like world number 1017, 18-year-old Derek Pham.

Four of the seven wild card entrants are exciting teen talent.

While Tomic is understood not to have sought a wild card, the 2011 Wimbledon quarterfinalist could still have received one.

But that was always unlikely after Tomic fell out with TA and launched a searing attack on Davis Cup captain and former close ally Lleyton Hewitt, one of the key wildcard judges.

“Nobody likes (Hewitt) anymore,” Tomic said after a first-round exit from the 2019 Open.

“We have a lot of issues that some players are not happy with. We all know who those players are. Myself, (Thanasi) Kokkinakis, (Nick) Kyrgios.’

Kyrgios accused Tomic of throwing him under a bus with his explosive outburst, but the Canberra-bred artist has since endured his own strained relationship with Hewitt and opted to skip Davis Cup for the past three years.

If Tomic fails to raise his ranking and never plays another Australian Open, it will be a sad end to a somewhat storied run at his home slam.

A falling out with Tennis Australia and Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, one of the key guest judges, has not helped Tomic’s cause.

Tomic’s off-court antics have not impressed many tennis fans (pictured with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Sierra)

He was the youngest player to win the junior Australian Open, at 15 years and three months in 2007.

The following year, Tomic saved match points against Italian Potito Starace to become the youngest man in history to win a main draw match at the Open.

Topping Australia’s Davis Cup for several years while posting an impressive 19-4 record in team competition, Tomic also enjoyed a string of strong results at Melbourne Park.

He has reached the last 16 three times and reached the third round on three other occasions, with promising streaks ended twice each by legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Tomic hasn’t been as successful in recent years, only appearing twice in the main draw since 2015.

In 2021, he was the only successful qualifier out of 20 Australian hopefuls before reaching the second round.

Tomic also deserves credit for continuing to soldier on at low-level events in North, Central, and South America.

He played 38 games in 2022, including 24 in the final four months of the season, winning titles in Santo Domingo and Cancún and losing a final in Harlington, Texas.

But he only pocketed a paltry $35,732 ($A51,900) for his effort, including just $US2,160 ($A3,140) for his latest tournament success in November, a far cry from the days when he told a TV reporter that he was ‘counting my millions’ after a third round Australian Open qualifying loss in 2018.

Had he received a wild card to qualify for the Open this year, Tomic would have been guaranteed a $26,000 payday.

If he had entered the main draw for the 12th time, he would have earned at least $106,250.