Bernard Tomic has reignited his hopes of a Grand Slam return, securing a commanding victory in the first round of Australian Open qualifying on Monday.
Tomic's Dominant Start in Melbourne
The former world No.17, now ranked 182nd, delivered a strong performance to defeat Bolivia's Hugo Dellien 6-3, 6-3 in 73 minutes at the 1573 Arena. A supportive crowd cheered Tomic throughout, their applause crescendoing as he sealed the match with a powerful forehand winner.
Tomic made a bright start, breaking Dellien's serve in the fourth game of the opening set. He looked confident on his own serve, firing six aces and saving all three break points he faced. The Australian maintained control in the second set, securing an early break and another later to close out a comfortable win.
A Long Road Back for the Former Star
This victory marks a significant moment in Tomic's turbulent career. A decade after reaching his career-high ranking, he has been grinding on the lower-tier Challenger tour after his ranking fell outside the top 500. Last year alone, he competed in a staggering 35 events worldwide, demonstrating a renewed commitment that was sometimes absent during his earlier years.
His next challenge is a second-round qualifying match against world No.185 Arhur Fery. A win would move him closer to securing a spot in the Australian Open main draw for the first time since 2021.
Stephens Ends Drought, Sets Up Clash with Gadecki
In the women's qualifying draw, the spotlight also fell on former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. The American, now ranked outside the top 1000 after a seven-month foot injury layoff, ended a horror 13-match losing streak with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Czech player Barbora Palicova.
"The last match I won was Wimbledon 2024 … I obviously had a bumpy road," Stephens said after the match. "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."
Her victory sets up a tough second-round clash with Australian Olivia Gadecki. The Queenslander, ranked 171st, eased past Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4 in her opening match. Gadecki leads their head-to-head record 2-1, including a win at Melbourne Park two years ago.
Stephens, the only major winner in this week's qualifying event, acknowledged the challenge. "I know her game and I’m familiar with her, and she’s a great player," Stephens said. "It’s a good start here, just to get a match win under my belt and another opportunity to go out and play some good tennis."
For both Tomic and Stephens, Monday's wins represent crucial first steps in their bids to return to the sport's biggest stage at Melbourne Park.
