'He's back': Tennis world erupts over Bernard Tomic development

Bernard Tomic has stunned the tennis world after qualifying for the Australian Open in what will be his first grand slam appearance since Wimbledon in 2019.

A combative Tomic insists he’s shown his whole-hearted commitment to tennis after ‘risking his life’ to play in the Middle East and successfully qualify for another Australian Open.

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The mercurial former top-20 player, so often derided for a supposed lukewarm attitude to the sport, showed huge spirit to win an epic all-Aussie final qualifying showdown with his friend John-Patrick Smith in Doha on Wednesday.

And he was equally feisty off the court after his gritty 6-4 5-7 7-6 (10-7) win over Townsville left-hander Smith, telling AAP that his critics hadn’t been fair to him during his chequered career.

“I am in Doha, I risked my life flying here, my health, COVID’s around, many sick, with many things that can go wrong,” he said.

“I’m risking my life, and I’m playing and competing. Of course, I want to get there.

“Otherwise I’d be hanging my racquets up. I don’t need to play tennis again, I’ve got enough money - so why are you asking me that question? Don’t ask questions like that.”

The 28-year-old became the only one of the 20 Australians who flew out for the arduous offshore qualifying tournaments in Doha and Dubai to make it to the Melbourne grand slam with his victory.

And his win, achieved when he was “physically bad” with a dodgy back after two-and-three-quarter draining hours, means he’ll be back at the championships - where he three times reached the last-16 - for the 11th time.

The day after surviving match point against another Australian Tristan Schoolkate, Tomic again dug deep, being just two points from defeat before winning another of the new first-to-10-points deciding tiebreaks.

He was 4-5, 15-30 down on his own serve in the final set and benefited from a contentious line call which Smith was furious went against him.

“I'm very tired, more tired than happy to be honest. I've never been this tired, and I've played a lot of tennis,” said the former world No.17.

“I'm not over-excited but it is a good thing, it is nice - but I'm physically pretty bad.

“JP's playing well, and had nothing to lose. I was physically so bad, I wasn’t able to execute my shots.”

Tomic’s qualification for the February 8 grand slam left tennis commentators and fans stunned, with many flocking to social media afterwards.

Tomic calls out critics after Aus Open qualification

Afterwards, the one-time golden boy of Australian tennis who’s had his fair share of negative headlines down the years, demanded some good press.

“You're the people who write the bad stuff about me. I've qualified for a slam - what should you be writing?” he told AAP.

“I don't think you guys have been fair towards me in the last half-decade, (or) decade. You can spin it whatever way you want, but don't escape the fact I've qualified for a slam."

“If you like me and you're a fan of me, write nice.”

Asked if he still felt he could win Wimbledon one day, he shrugged: “Probably not - with the level of the players around today, I'm not going to say I'm going to win Wimbledon, it's tough to win a grand slam.

“Do I have a chance of winning a slam at this stage or in the next year? No. But do I have a chance of playing well in a Slam? Yes.”

The only other Australian in the final qualifying matches, teenager Dane Sweeny, went down 2-6 6-3 6-1 to Ukrainian veteran Sergiy Stakhovsky.

with AAP

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