Bernard Tomic has won his first round match of Australian Open qualifying, defeating Hugo Dellien 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne.
Tomic, who once promised that he would be world number one someday, was once viewed as a rising star of the sport and a potential Grand Slam champion.
However, the Australian star has never managed to reach the lofty heights expected, at one point falling to 825 in the world.
Tomic re-entered the top 200 in August 2025 and looks set to make another significant jump up the rankings after defeating Dellien on Monday.
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Tomic, currently ranked 184 in the world, is set to face Great Britain’s Arthur Fery in the second round of qualifying.
Bernard Tomic ends five-year drought at the Australian Open
Bernard Tomic’s long wait for a victory at the Australian Open has come to an end.
With victory against Dellien on Monday, Tomic secured a singles victory at the event for the first time since 2021.
In 2021, Tomic won three rounds of qualifying before defeating Yuichi Sugita in the first round. He then lost to Denis Shapovalov, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.
A year later, Tomic lost in the first round of qualifying to Roman Safiullin. In 2023 and 2024, the Australian did not compete in the event.
Last year, Tomic lost in the first round of qualifying to Jozef Kovalík, 6-3, 6-1.
Tomic has made a number of bold statements throughout his career, including tipping himself for Grand Slam success following his run to the 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finals.
In 2022, Tomic made perhaps the most bold statement of his career; claiming he could win Wimbledon despite being ranked 260 in the world.
As reported by News.com.au, Tomic told Channel 9’s A Current Affair: “I can win Wimbledon.
“We all know this, I know this — I’m probably a top 10 player in the world on grass. I will do it, before I retire, I will do it, that’s for sure.”
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Bernard Tomic’s first Australian Open victory
In 2008, Tomic made his first appearance in Melbourne after being given a wildcard for the qualifying draw.
Tomic defeated Jimmy Wang in the first round, before losing to Prakash Amritraj.
A year later, Tomic was handed a wildcard spot for the main draw. At 16 years old, Tomic became the youngest-ever male tennis player to win a senior Australian Open Grand Slam tournament match after defeating Potito Starace.
Tomic lost to Gilles Muller in the second round, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
