Drawcards Bernard Tomic and Cruz Hewitt have each made hasty exits from Melbourne Park after straight-set defeats in spherical one among Australian Open qualifying.
The veteran and the teenager prospect had excessive hopes of a berth within the Open principal draw however had been unable to ship a victory in entrance of a swell of followers on Tuesday, with 32-year-old Tomic presumably bowing out for the final time.
The one-time world No.17, who has made the fourth spherical of the Open 3 times throughout his 11 appearances, was returning to play in Melbourne for the primary time in three years.
However he was unable to repeat his 2021 feat, when he gained three qualifying matches to earn a spot in the principle draw after which reached the second spherical.
Ranked No.214, Tomic was trounced by Slovakian world No.128 Jozef Kovalik 6-3 6-1 along with his effort falling away within the second set after the primary break.
Tomic final yr earned simply over $100,000 enjoying in Challenger and Future occasions in tennis backwaters.
Lacking the prospect to greater than double that in a single week, with a first-round Open loser amassing $132,000, he sought a assure that he would not be fined for declining a request from media post-match.
“Am I going to get a wonderful?,” the previous Wimbledon quarter-finalist requested a tennis official who informed him interviews weren’t compulsory.
“OK, I am good.”
Hewitt, the 16-year-old son of former world No.1 Lleyton, was rapidly ushered from courtroom by safety with a towel over his head following his 6-1 6-4 defeat by skilled Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
The promising teenager was given a wildcard into qualifying, trying to succeed in the principle draw of a serious for the primary time.
Watched by his father and former actress mom Bec within the stands, Hewitt had little reply to the firepower of Basilashvili, who has been ranked as excessive as world No.16 and is coming back from a long-term arm damage.
However the teen discovered some rhythm within the second set and had an opportunity to attract degree at 5-5.
He was up 0-30 on his opponent’s serve however two backhand errors allowed Basilashvili to wrap up the sport and match.
He additionally later declined to speak to the media about his efficiency.
AAP
