Tomic’s epic comeback as ranking climbs
Bernard Tomic has mounted an epic comeback to storm into the semis of the Mexico Open as his bid to return to the top ranks of tennis gains momentum.
Tomic was all but gone in his quarter final against Tunisia’s Skander Mansouri, down a set and break. He was losing 6-7 1-3 and faced a breakpoint for 1-4.
Once dubbed ‘Tomic the Tank Engine’ given a reputation for giving up at times, this time he dug in and turned it around. He saved the breakpoint and managed to win the set 6-4 before going down again in the third 1-4. Again he rallied to storm back and win the third and final set 6-4 before raising his fist in triumph and embracing Mansouri ranked 425 at the net.
It continues a strong run on the Challenger circuit with back-to-back quarter finals his week in Mexico started with a 6-3 6-1 demolition of fellow Aussie Omar Jasika ranked around 200.
It comes as Tomic - who two years ago was languishing outside the world’s top 800 players - is now forecast to surged up the rankings from 287 to 247.
In his semi-final against 108ranked Thiago Tirante on Sunday, Tomic was again down a set and 1-4 before again mounting a stirring comeback to force a second-set tiebreaker. He ended up losing 4-6 6-7.
Tomic has been candid in recent years about mental battles with the sport which once earmarked him as a champion. At his peak he was ranked 17 and the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist at age 18 since two-time winner Boris Becker. Two years ago, facing ranking oblivion, Tomic said his options were to quit or mount one last push at reviving his career.