Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has revealed why Bernard Tomic missed out on a qualifying wildcard for the grand slam.
Regardless of a rankings rebound of types, during which Tomic rose from world No. 825 to No. 462 up to now 12 months, the 30-year-old Queenslander was ignored for a wildcard in favour of a sequence of children ranked beneath him.
Talking to reporters on Monday, Tiley defined the vary of things that contributed to the choice.
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“Our crew that appears on the choice has a crew of individuals that appears on the choice of wildcards,” Tiley mentioned.
“(They have a look at) the participant coming in, the power of their play, what occasions they’ve been taking part in, how a lot they’ve been taking part in, are they the youthful a part of our future technology. There’s many elements that go into it.”
Tiley mentioned the most important cause for the Tomic snub was the rising variety of promising Aussie kids all vying to participate in qualifying.
“One factor that’s nice is we’ve received a brand new downside – we’ve received much more Australian gamers to select from, and that’s an incredible downside to have,” he mentioned.
19-year-old’s James McCabe (No. 406) and Philip Sekulic (No. 543), 18-year-old’s Derek Pham (No. 1017), Jeremy Jin (No. 990), Edward Winter (No. 672) and American Bruno Kuzuhara (No. 636), who gained the Australia Open boys title final yr, all earned qualifying wildcards forward of Tomic.
They’ll be joined by 21-year-olds Dane Sweeny (No. 249) and Tristan Schoolkate (No. 367) and 23-year-old Adam Walton (No. 432) in qualifying, which runs from the January 9-12 at Melbourne Park.
Tomic, who reportedly didn’t apply for a wildcard however might nonetheless have been awarded one, informed First Serve he would use the snub as motivation.
“I’m not anticipating any favours. I’m going to show my level and earn my means,” Tomic mentioned on his technique to Doha.
“I perceive Tennis Australia has made their choice. It’s good to see the younger tennis gamers getting a chance.
“I’m at a spot in my life the place I don’t complain anymore. I’m targeted and I’ve been coaching laborious.
“I’ll let my tennis do the speaking. Final quarter of 2022, I gained three tournaments and made 4 finals.
“This yr is my yr, if nobody goes to assist help me, I’ll get again to high 100 alone.
“My headspace may be very totally different. I’m in a constructive surroundings, good folks round me, I’m in a wholesome, blissful relationship.
“Now all there may be to do, is get again to the place I belong.”
It’s hardly shocking Tennis Australia have been seeking to distance themselves from the previous World No. 17 after he blasted Australian legend, Davis Cup captain and one of many key wildcard judges Lleyton Hewitt.
“Nobody likes him any extra,” Tomic mentioned after a first-round Open exit in 2019.
“We now have lots of points that not lots of gamers are blissful about. Everyone knows who these gamers are. Myself, (Thanasi) Kokkinakis, (Nick) Kyrgios.”
Final season he mentioned he’d “win Wimbledon” earlier than the tip of his profession regardless of having misplaced in straight units in qualifying to then-World No. 146 Roman Safiullin 6-1 6-4.
Tiley slams Aussie Open transfer calls
In the meantime, Tiley has shot down strategies the Australian Open must be moved from its January date as a way to keep away from the brutal warmth of the Aussie summer season.
Within the wake of plenty of high-profile withdrawals from this yr’s event, calls emerged for the event to be moved within the curiosity of participant welfare.
“I did learn that (report), I assumed it was completely ridiculous, a weird declare,” Tiley mentioned.
“You speak to each participant, that is the season. It begins in January. It begins right here in Australia.
“It finishes with Davis Cup late on the boys’s facet and never as late on the ladies’s facet however I do assume it’s an extended season. We’ve been speaking about that for a very long time.
“However Australia is the summer season, Australia is January and this occasion is — from the gamers’ perspective — one among their favorite locations to play.
“They’re coming right here earlier, we’re now seeing gamers right here for six weeks, for seven weeks and the preparation for the Australian summer season may be very normalised. They know what they should do.”
The Australian Open kicks off on January 16 and runs till January 29 in Melbourne.
