Bernard Tomic withdraws from rain-delayed ATP Challenger final to focus on US Open qualifying

7NEWS

11 hours ago

Bernard Tomic has sacrificed his latest chance to end a seven-year ATP trophy drought to instead take his shot at a much bigger prize — the US Open main draw.
The 32-year-old Australian veteran's resurgence continued over the weekend when he reached his second ATP Challenger final this month.
But the decider was rained out and delayed by 24 hours before ultimately being cancelled when it emerged Tomic had decided to withdraw.
Tomic is entered into US Open qualifying beginning on Monday, calling for swift travel from Barranquilla in Colombia to New York.
He was the third seed in Barranquilla and a good chance to win the title over world No.314 Arthur Fery, who made his name at Wimbledon earlier this year with an upset win over Aussie Alexei Popyrin in the first round.
Tomic had also reached the Lexington Challenger final earlier this month on the back of a comeback from 1-4 down in the third set of a semi-final against world No.124 Eliot Spizzirri.
But he was beaten in the decider, with his Barranquilla withdrawal extending the wait to win his first ATP Tour or ATP Challenger title since 2018.
Tomic will begin his tilt at a first grand slam appearance since the 2021 Australian Open on Tuesday in New York.
He will face American Patrick Kypson, the world No.212, and could face former world No.36 Pierre Hugues-Herbert in the second round.
A third win would send Tomic into the US Open main draw with $US110,000 ($A170,000) in his pocket, along with crucial ranking points.
Tomic has risen from 825th in the world three years ago to 184th this week — his highest position since September 2019 — and is almost certain to contest qualifying at the Australian Open next year.
His goal remains returning to the top 100, securing direct entry into the grand slams, before retiring.
Tomic showed that is a legitimate possibility with wins over then world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic and Aussie world No.88 Rinky Hijikata on grass in June.
'Tennis has become part of my life ever since I was seven. Obviously I had a dad that pushed me extremely hard and that's one of the reasons I got there, in a sense,' he told the Changeover podcast that month.
'But when you look at this whole picture, now that I'm 32, it's a purpose. It still gives me something to do. Without tennis, I don't know what I would do.
'I'm sitting about 200 in the world, or whatever, and my goal is to be top 100 and then I can retire. It's more of a statement, that sort of thing, so let's see if I can do it.
'But the whole sort of sense you've got to find your purpose, something that gets you going now that you're older, you want something to give. And it's about tennis.
'It's the only thing I'm good at. I've been good at it for almost three decades, so it gets me going. I can still play decent. I'm not in my prime like I was ... but that's why I'm challenging myself to get back there one more time. And then retire happy, guilt free.'
Elsewhere in US Open qualifying, an all-Aussie match-up looms between two of the country's five other men in the draw.
First-up wins would pit James Duckworth and James McCabe against each other in the second round.
Jason Kubler, Alex Bolt and Omar Jasika are the other Australians bidding to join a strong cohort of top-100 stars in the main draw.
Alex de Minaur heads the group featuring Nick Kyrgios, Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, Christopher O'Connell, Rinky Hijikata, Aleksandar Vukic, Adam Walton and Tristan Schoolkate.
Schoolkate was rewarded with a wildcard entry after recently breaking into the top 100 for the first time, having missed direct entry at the June cut-off.
Ten Australian women will also attempt to qualify for the US Open this week — but not all can make it.
Former doubles world No.1 Storm Hunter will resume her comeback from injury against compatriot Maddison Inglis.
All-Aussie match-ups also loom between Priscilla Hon and Daria Saville (possible second round) and Astra Sharma and Emerson Jones (possible third round).
Olivia Gadecki, Arina Rodionova, Destanee Aiava and Lizette Cabrera round out the Australian hopefuls seeking to make the main draw.
Talia Gibson, who peaked at world No.107 last month, received a wildcard to join Daria Kasatkina, Maya Joint, Kim Birrell and Ajla Tomljanovic in the tournament proper.