Tomic Ignites Qualifiers with Straight-Sets Win
Under Melbourne’s baking sun, Bernard Tomic slices through Hugo Dellien to signal a comeback, while young guns like Dino Prizmic and Rei Sakamoto charge forward. As Jannik Sinner defends his crown and Carlos Alcaraz hunts history, these early qualifying battles pulse with redemption and rising stars.
On a humid Monday at Melbourne Park, the Australian Open qualifying courts hummed with the sharp cracks of racquets meeting ball, as players clawed for main draw spots ahead of the hard-court major’s Sunday start. Bernard Tomic, the Australian once ranked No. 17, dismantled Hugo Dellien 6-3, 6-3, his flat serves pinning the Bolivian deep and forcing errors on crosscourt exchanges. This victory marks his strongest step toward the main draw since 2021, where third-round runs in past years now feel like distant fuel for today’s focus.
Tomic rebuilds with precise aggression
Tomic’s game sharpened early, targeting Dellien’s backhand with inside-out forehands that exploited the hard court’s true bounce. He held serve effortlessly, turning potential rallies into quick points with deep returns that neutralized any Bolivian counterpunch. The crowd’s murmurs built as he closed sets without a waver, a quiet nod to the psychological reset he’s chasing amid career shadows.
Across the courts, Dino Prizmic carried fresh momentum from last month’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, overwhelming Genaro Alberto Olivieri 6-1, 6-4. The Croat’s one–two pattern—serve followed by a heavy topspin forehand—dictated tempo, echoing the set he pried from Novak Djokovic at the 2024 Australian Open. At 19, Prizmic’s fluid movement absorbed the Argentine’s pace, converting defense into down-the-line winners that left little room for comeback.
Young guns claim early dominance
Rei Sakamoto, the Japanese teenager eyeing his main draw debut, routed Daniel Evans 6-1, 6-2, his aggressive baseline play kicking high off the Plexicushion to disrupt the Brit’s footing. Sakamoto mixed slices with flat backhands, keeping Evans scrambling on returns and unable to build rhythm. This clinical win injects confidence into his bid, the outer courts’ energy amplifying each point’s weight for the rising star.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert, fresh off his 2019 Australian Open doubles triumph with Nicolas Mahut, rallied from a set deficit to top Guy Den Ouden 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The Frenchman’s shift to serve-volley tactics disrupted the Dutchman’s steady groundstrokes, his net rushes turning the match’s tide as fatigue set in. Herbert’s experience shone through, preserving his singles push with crisp volleys that echoed his doubles prowess.
Meanwhile, Dusan Lajovic, the 35-year-old Serb who hit the fourth round here in 2021, outlasted Facundo Diaz Acosta in a tense 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-6(10-3) grinder. Lajovic leaned on inside-in forehands during tiebreaks, the hard surface’s speed amplifying his angles to edge out the Argentine’s resilience. His endurance under the mounting heat forged a hard-fought advance, a testament to tactical patience in qualifying’s unforgiving format.
Veterans and Americans push limits
The American trio advanced steadily: Brandon Holt rebounded from a set down to beat Lukas Neumayer 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, his crosscourt backhands countering the Austrian’s power serves. Tristan Boyer wore down Alex Barrena 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2, tightening returns to redirect pace on the bouncy courts. Colton Smith sealed his win over Luka Pavlovic 7-6(4), 6-1 with clutch second serves, maintaining control in the decider’s pressure.
As the Australian Open main draw nears, Jannik Sinner enters as two-time defending champion, his baseline mastery setting the tone. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz chases a Career Grand Slam, his explosive inside-out game a looming threat. These qualifying surges, from Tomic’s revival to the youngsters’ poise, hint at undercurrents that could ripple into the week’s high-stakes drama.
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