Tennis Australia boss explains ‘great new problem’ that saw Bernard Tomic DROPPED from tournament

Bernard Tomic’s failure to secure a place at the Australian Open is the result of having a new batch of local talent to choose from when the wild card spots were awarded, according to tournament boss Craig Tiley.

The former world number 17’s record 15-year Grand Slam playing streak came to an end last Saturday when Tennis Australia opted to go with the juniors as it awarded seven wild card spots to Australian players.

Derek Pham, Edward Winter and Jeremy Lin (18), Philip Sekulic James McCabe (19) and Tristan Schoolkate and Dane Sweeny (21) were among the fresh faces to start at Melbourne Park, leaving 30-year-old Tomic for scrap. for the first time since 2008.

Tomic (pictured with girlfriend Keely Hannah) reacted defiantly when he learned he would be absent from the Open for the first time since 2008

The 30-year-old (pictured playing at the Australian Open last year) has been passed over in favor of a much younger Australian talent.

“One cool thing is we have a new problem: we have a lot more Australian players to choose from, and that’s a big problem,” Tiley explained.

‘It’s our performance team that looks at the wild card decision.

“What it focuses on is the player coming in, or the strength of their game, how they’ve been playing, what events they’ve been playing, how much they’ve been playing. Are they the youngest part of our future generation, the youngest players?

“There are a lot of factors that go into it and it’s not a quick decision that they go through.”

Tomic, who did himself a disservice when he fell out with Tennis Australia and criticized Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, was defiant after receiving the bad news.

Tomic insists ‘this year is my year’ despite falling down the rankings to be listed as the 462nd best player on the men’s tour.

I don’t expect any favours. I am going to prove my point and win my way,” she said.

I am at a point in my life where I no longer complain. I am focused and I have been training hard. I’ll let my tennis do the talking.

‘The last quarter of 2022 I won three tournaments and won four finals. This year is my year. If no one is going to help support me, I will contact [the] top 100 by myself.

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

The following year, he beat Italy’s Potito Starace to become the youngest man to win a main draw match at the Grand Slam, where he reached the last 16 three times and reached the third round three more times.