Tennis players Bernard Tomic and Cruz Hewitt both experienced swift exits from the Australian Open qualifiers, facing straight-set defeats in the first round. Tomic, returning to Melbourne Park after missing the last four years, was overpowered 6-3, 6-1 by Slovakian Jozef Kovalik. With a ranking of 214, Tomic’s performance dwindled after an initial break in the second set. Despite his career earnings exceeding $100,000 from minor tournaments, he missed the chance to secure a $132,000 prize for a first-round loss in the Open. Post-match, Tomic questioned whether he would face a fine for opting out of media interviews, only to be reassured they weren’t mandatory.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt, son of former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, was defeated by Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-4. Hewitt was ushered from the court under a towel by security and also declined media interactions. Despite the loss, he showed some promising play in the second set, notably bringing the score to 5-5 and briefly threatening to equalize before succumbing to his opponent’s experienced play.
Both players had hoped for main draw entries, but the early eliminations marked a disappointing end to their campaigns at Melbourne Park. Although the losses were a setback, the young Hewitt remains a talented prospect with a bright future ahead.
