BERNIE MAKES STATEMENT AFTER COMEBACK WIN; BIRRELL TAKES OUT FORMER AO WINNER

(Getty/Kelly Defina)

Years of grinding it out on the Challenger and ITF Tours seem to be paying off for Bernard Tomic after he scored his first main draw tour-level win since the 2021 Australian Open.

The 32-year-old passed up a potential shot at Wimbledon qualifying, instead entering the ATP 250 Mallorca event, as he defeated two top-100 players, Jesper De Jong and Aleksandar Kovacevic, en route to the main draw.

By entering the code TFS2025, you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items when you shop online at www.racquetworld.com.au

Overnight, he earned a third consecutive top-100 scalp over Aussie compatriot Rinky Hijikata in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Tomic seemed down and out after trailing by a set and 3-5, but managed to flip the script and produce an impressive comeback.

The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist has risen 34 places to No.214 in the live rankings.

Next up is a clash against seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

Elsewhere, Kimberly Birrell proved a class above former Australian Open champion and fourth-seed Sofia Kenin in the first-round of the Eastbourne Open by a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4.

Birrell, who entered the match as a qualifier after two straight sets wins, didn't face a break point on serve all match to book her place in the round of 16 against the experienced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

She joins 19-year-old Maya Joint as the only Aussies left standing in the tournament.

Brought to you by HEAD, Your Game Is Their Game. Find all the latest HEAD tennis, padel, pickleball and squash products now at www.head.com