Tomic secures reprieve
BERNARD Tomic claims he deserved a Wimbledon reprieve, insisting he was sick during a listless final-round qualifying failure.
The Queenslander has been pitchforked into the All England Club draw as a lucky loser after a soft three-set elimination by Ruben Bemelmans.
But despite the heavy loss, Tomic has found his way into the world’s premier tournament and he believes he is ready to capitalise.
“I was sick the last day and the day before, and I got another chance to play Wimbledon,” Tomic said.
“It’s good so I (will) still try to recover and do my best.
“Playing Wimbledon, that’s where it all started for me. I played qualies eight or nine years ago.
“But I was not well and I was sick last week. Got sick and now I get another chance, and I’ve got to take it.
“But I think I deserve another shot.”
Tomic lost an exhibition match 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to South Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis at The Boodles.
But the Queenslander is grateful for a second chance against Pole Hubert Hurkacz.
“I’m playing a lucky loser … two lucky losers playing first round, so it’s pretty good for him and for me,” Tomic said.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to be a lucky loser so it’s a bit funny.”
It will be the controversial Australian’s ninth straight appearance at London’s grasscourt Grand Slam. Tomic, 25, reached Wimbledon’s quarterfinals in 2011.
Fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios, free of injury and in a positive headspace, says he has never felt better heading into Wimbledon.
The 2014 quarter-finalist has finally shrugged off severe elbow soreness and boasts victories over class grasscourters Andy Murray, Feliciano Lopez and Kyle Edmund in an ideal preparation.
“I think it’s the best I’ve felt,” he said ahead of a clash with Denis Istomin.
“I’ve never really won many matches before Wimbledon so to come in this time playing two solid weeks against tough opponents, that’s probably the best I’ve ever felt about my game coming on the grass.”