Former quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic will miss Wimbledon for the first time in nine years after an embarrassing qualifying loss at the hands of 104th-ranked Belgian Ruben Bemelmans.
With a spot in the Wimbledon main draw up for grabs Tomic capitulated against the 30-year-old journeyman, going down 3-6 1-6 2-6 in just an hour and 20 minutes on court.
Tomic, who conceded whopping six service breaks, cut a forlorn figure after the devastating loss on his favourite surface.
Currently sitting 162nd on the ATP Rankings, the former world-number-17 appeared to give up at stages of the third set in another dark chapter of his dramatic fall from tennis’ upper echelon.
The 25-year-old winner of three career singles titles made the quarter-finals at the All England Club as a teenager in 2011.
He progressed to the Wimbledon fourth round twice - including as recently as 2016 - but crashed out in the first round in last year’s tournament.
Tomic also failed to qualify for this year’s Australian Open but did make the main draw at Roland Garros, losing in the first round of the French Open.
Meanwhile, little-known Aussie Alex Bolt upstaged fellow South Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-5 to qualify on Thursday night (AEST).
Nick Kyrgios, Matt Ebden, John Millman, Alex de Minaur, James Duckworth and Jordan Thompson are the other Aussie men in this year’s men’s singles draw.
