Bernard Tomic dominates as Aussie star takes one step nearer to qualifying for the Australian Open for the primary time in 5 years
Bernard Tomic took a positive step in qualifying for the Australian Open for the first time in nearly five years after claiming a dominant straight-sets victory against Bolivian star Hugo Dellien on Monday.
The 33-year-old Australian has failed to advance past the first round of qualifying in his last two attempts, with Tomic crashing out early in 2025 and again in 2022, compounding his recent woes on the court.
Today, he lapped up the applause from the home fans at Melbourne Park’s 1973 Arena as he swept away the 25th seed, 6-3, 6-3.
Olivia Gadecki was also a favourite among the locals, with the 23-year-old Queenslander setting up a second-round match against former world No 3 Sloane Stephens.
Other Australians to secure first-round wins included Tina Smith, Lizette Cabrera and Dane Sweeney, who overcame Italian 26th seed Andrea Pellegrino 6-2 4-6 6-3.
Tomic’s last berth at the Australian Open main draw came in 2021, where the 33-year-old had reached the second round, but crashed out after suffering defeat in three sets by Denis Shapovalov.
Bernard Tomic (pictured) took a positive step in qualifying for the Australian Open for the first time in nearly five years after
The Australian bested Bolivian star Hugo Dellien (pictured) 6-3 6-3 at Melbourne Park
Ranked some 50 places lower than world No 137 Dellien, Tomic broke to lead 3-1 with six aces helping him comfortably take the first set.
The Aussie looked fit and focused as he took a 4-2 lead in the second before wrapping up the match in 72 minutes.
Tomic will next face British youngster Arthur Fery, after the world No 185 overpowered Australian wildcard Edward Winter 6-2 6-4.
Gadecki eased past her Dutch opponent Arantxa Rus 6-2 6-4 and will next face Stephens, who is the only major winner playing in qualifying this week for a spot in the main draw.
The 32-year-old, who won the 2017 US Open and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2013, was sidelined for seven months last year due to a foot injury.
Her WTA ranking dropped outside the top 1000, forcing the American into qualifying for the first time since Wimbledon in 2012.
She opened her account on Monday with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Czechia’s Barbora Palicova.
While keeping alive Stephens’ hopes of playing in a 14th Australian Open, the win ended a horror 13-match losing streak.
Fans cheered the Australian (pictured) as he produced a dominant performance, wrapping up the match in 72 minutes
‘The last match I won was Wimbledon 2024,’ Stephens said post-match. ‘I obviously had a bumpy road on the back of that, then got injured at the beginning of last year and didn’t play.
‘I’m not going to be like, ‘Oh my god, I played so bad’. It was never that. Time passes, things happen and it’s unfortunate.’
World No.171 Gadecki and Stephens have met three times before with the Australian leading the head-to-head 2-1.
‘I played her here two years ago, and then another few times,’ Stephens said.
‘I know her game and I’m familiar with her, and she’s a great player and I’m just going to go out and hopefully continue to play good tennis.’
