Tomic set to sweat on qualifying spots

BERNARD Tomic intends to enter qualifying for the Brisbane International and the Australian Open, indicating firmly he expects a January circuit without Tennis Australia wildcard favours.

Tomic has slumped in the rankings from No.26 to No.141 this year but is still the fourthranked Australian man.

The 25-year-old former Australian No.1 has pulled out of a Challenger tournament in Italy next week and will have a break ahead of pre-season training.

It is significant that Tomic has not yet sought to enter qualifying for the Sydney International, which is played in the second week of the season from January 7 and is an event he won in 2013.

Qualifying rounds for the Australian Open start in the middle of the Sydney tournament week and he could not play both.

“Bernard is done for the season. He’s currently entered into Brisbane and Australian Open qualifying,’’ Tomic’s agent Matthew Fawcett said.

Tomic’s entries for qualifying in the two January tournaments would show he is determined to play home events even though Tennis Australia has done nothing to dispel beliefs that its wildcards will go to other, mostly younger, Australians.

The Gold Coaster rejected Davis Cup selection this year and dismayed TA and the tennis public when he admitted feigning injury in a Wimbledon loss and being “a little bit bored” on court.