Bernard Tomic has taken an early step toward a long-awaited return to the Australian Open main draw, producing a composed straight-sets win in the opening round of qualifying at Melbourne Park.
The 33-year-old Australian defeated Bolivia’s 25th seed Hugo Dellien 6-3, 6-2 on Monday, looking sharp from the first few games and closing the match in 72 minutes. For Tomic, it’s a notable result in a home Grand Slam campaign where three qualifying wins are required to reach the main draw.
- Result: Bernard Tomic def. Hugo Dellien 6-3, 6-2
- Round: Australian Open qualifying – first round
- Time: 72 minutes
Tomic, ranked around 50 places below the world No.138 Dellien, set the tone early by breaking to lead 3-1 in the first set. He served efficiently, mixing pace with placement and backing it up with a steady baseline game that kept the Bolivian from settling into longer, grinding rallies.
After taking the opener 6-3, Tomic continued to apply pressure in the second set, moving ahead 4-2 before sealing the match in straight sets. The veteran looked fit and focused, with vocal support from Australian fans adding to the atmosphere around an afternoon session that quickly became one of the day’s talking points.
The win also carries extra significance because Tomic last played in the Australian Open main draw in 2021, reaching the second round that year. A successful qualifying run in 2026 would mark his first return to the tournament’s main field in five years — and a rare late-career push on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
What’s next: Tomic will face British youngster Arthur Fery in the second round of qualifying. Fery advanced after beating Australian wildcard Edward Winter 6-2, 6-4, setting up a matchup that will decide whether Tomic can move within one win of the main draw.
You can follow tournament schedules and qualifying updates via the Australian Open schedule, while player backgrounds and rankings are available on the ATP Tour website (see the official Bernard Tomic profile and Hugo Dellien profile).
For more tennis coverage and match updates, visit our Tennis section.
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