Former Grand Slam quarterfinalist loses to world number 480 after claiming he wanted to return to the top 100

Follow us on Google Discover

For most players the tennis season is over, but some are still battling it out on the lower-level Challenger Tour.

Italy won the Davis Cup title for a third consecutive year last week, which for many symbolised the official end of the tennis season.

However, many lower ranked players are still competing on both the lower-level ATP Challenger and ITF Tours.

This includes former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Bernard Tomic, who recently spoke about targeting the top 100.

Bernard Tomic loses to the world number 480 at ATP Challenger event

Tomic, who has a career-high ranking of world number 17, fell to as low as outside the top 800 back in 2022.

Since then, the Australian has been trying to rebuild his way back up, and Tomic is currently ranked as the world number 183.

In an attempt to continue climbing up the rankings even in the latter stages of the 2025 season, Tomic has been competing at ATP Challenger tournaments in Australia.

The latest of those was in Playford, Adelaide, where Tomic was the third seed in the singles draw.

Despite winning his first round match in straight sets, Tomic’s run came to an end at the hands of his world number 480 compatriot, Philip Sekulic.

What Lleyton Hewitt recently questioned about Bernard Tomic

Tomic often divides opinion among both players and fans, and he has also previously had run-ins with Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt.

When recently speaking to The Australian, Hewitt suggested that his relationship with Tomic has somewhat mended, but he was unclear as to what his compatriot’s motivation for still playing is.

“It’s a hard one – I don’t think anyone fully knows,” Hewitt said. “I’m not sure if he doesn’t know what else to do, or if he still feels he has some unfinished business.

“It’s a tough one, but you’ve got to take your hat off to him in terms of the places he’s gone to, and the tournaments that he’s been playing the last few years, compared to where he was at centre stage and playing the big names.

“He’s still going out there and having a crack. He doesn’t mind playing on backcourts. I spoke to him a couple of times this week, and I don’t know what his plans are.”

Hewitt also recently made a return to tennis, having officially retired from doubles four years ago.

There are now questions over whether Hewitt could get a wildcard for the Australian Open, while Tomic is set to play in qualifying.