With Wimbledon just days away, the battle for the final spots on the main draw is heating up.
Bernard Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis have had mixed runs through qualifying, but wins are wins - and both will need to do so on Thursday night (AEST) to ensure qualification for Wimbledon.
Kokkinakis will take on fellow Aussie Alex Bolt, while Tomic, John-Patrick Smith and Jason Kubler will all have difficult assignments to overcome to make the main stage for the third Grand Slam of the year.
Which Aussies will join Nick Kyrgios and Alex De Minaur in the main draw?
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TOMIC ON THE MARCH TO REPEAT 2011 HEROICS
Back in 2011 as an 18-year-old qualifier, Bernard Tomic stunned the tennis world when he reached the final eight, only to be taken down by eventual tournament winner Novak Djokovic.
Seven years later, Tomic has seen it all and done, well, not so much - but his recent good form on grass is gaining serious wheels.
The 25-year-old has only dropped 15 games in his two qualifying matches, with wins over Matteo Donati (7-6 6-3) and Tomislav Brkic (6-2 6-4).
Bernie Tomic is a big draw @Wimbledon qualifying. And he’s a round two winner, beating Tomislav Brkic 6-2 6-4 to advance to the final round. #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/r5gn0gNVxK
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 26, 2018
Standing in his way is second qualifying seed, Ruben Bemelmans, who has dropped just 14 games in his two matches.
The 30-year-old Belgian will be a difficult opponent for Tomic as both aim to reach the main draw at the All England Club.
A win would give Tomic a chance at redemption after he suffered a first round loss to lucky loser Marco Trungelliti at Roland-Garros.
COUNTRYMAN BOLT THE FINAL HURDLE FOR KOKKINAKIS
Alex Bolt has only reached two main draws in his career, having made the first round in Melbourne in 2017 and 2018.
He is inches away from a maiden Wimbledon appearance, but has one final roadblock in his way - fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kokkinakis is on the comeback trail from a raft of injuries that have upset the momentum of his 2018 season.
However, after a gritty three-set win over Marcelo Arevalo in the first qualifying round, Kokkinakis swept aside Pole Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets, and is becoming increasingly confident with his mobility across the grass.
It was a business-like victory for @TKokkinakis, who progressed to the final round of @Wimbledon qualifying with a 6-1 6-4 win. Serve on song. #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/MGosfoCynI
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 26, 2018
Bolt, meanwhile, staved off Frenchman Quentin Halys in three, before beating local wildcard Alexander Ward in straight sets.
It’s a big match in the final round for @abolt15 - he’ll take on @TKokkinakis for a place in the @Wimbledon main draw! #GoAussies
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 26, 2018
Kokkinakis has two previous Wimbledon main draw appearances to his name - 2015 and 2017 - and will be favourite to take down his countryman and make it number three.
KUBLER, SMITH FIRMLY IN THE HUNT
A 6-1 6-2 win over Belgian Arthur De Greef in the first round ensured Aussie Kubler was one to watch in qualifying.
However, things were tougher against Czech Adam Pavlasek, with the final set between the pair finishing 12-10 in Kubler's favour.
Aussie @JasonKubler wins an epic! Defeats Pavlasek 3-6 6-3 12-10 to reach the final round of @Wimbledon qualifying #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/7B2VlzAu2F
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 26, 2018
A loss to Canadian Peter Polansky in the third and final round, and 25-year-old Kubler could live to a rue a missed opportunity to play at the All England club.
Smith, though, has had it much easier - cruising through to the third round after a 6-3 6-4 win over former world No.19 Marcel Granollers of Spain.
The 29-year-old will have it all to do against American Michael Mmoh, who has himself endured a difficult passage through qualification.
