Resurgent Bernard Tomic Sets His Sights on Top 100
In his heyday, Australia’s Bernard Tomic was the talk of the tennis world. In 2011 at the age of 18 he became the first qualifier to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in over a decade. Five years later he hit his prime, reaching inside the Top 20 and becoming a regular – at least for a while – in the second weeks of majors.
But somewhere along the way Tomic lost motivation.
He fell out of the Top 100 in the second half of 2017 and eventually, after spending another year between No.73 and No.96 in the world, he dropped out of the Top 100 for good.
He’s been on the outside looking in since September of 2019, but this year a resurgent Tomic has worked his way back to relevance at the age of 32.
After reaching the main draw in Almaty today with a hard-fought win over Marc-Andrea Heusler he told reporters that he is enjoying the challenge of targeting the Top 100.
«Just challenging myself,» he said. «I got a little bit bored a couple of years ago. I wasn't practicing much when I was 25, 26 and had a long pause, so it took me a while to figure out what I was doing. It’s tough when you get older, you need time. Doesn't matter how good you are, you need to train, you need to practice. The process to get back is even tougher.»
Tomic has won 40 matches on tour this year, across all levels, and now sits at No.168 in the ATP rankings.
He isn’t sure what the future holds, or if he’ll even continue to play if he reaches his current goal.
«I'm doing this for a challenge, for myself,» he said. «I was [around] 1000 in the world, and now I'm back to [168], so I'm trying to challenge myself to get back.
«If I get back to Top 100, then I'll see.»
That said, Tomic knows that it doesn’t take much for lightning to strike. He was keenly aware of the success of Valentin Vacherot this weekend in Shanghai. The Monagesque won the title from qualifying and jumped 164 spots in the rankings from 204 to No.40.
«We're seeing guys like Vacherot who won [the Shanghai title on Sunday],» Tomic pointed out. «Incredible. I played him a couple of times. I beat him a couple times, but he's a good friend of mine. He's a really nice guy, and I wish very good things upon him.»
Tomic is 2-0 against Vacherot, with a win against him in 2023 and 2024.
«I knew he was going to be a good player,» the Aussie said. «I played him three years ago. I said for sure, he's going to be Top 50, Top 30, and he had a little bit of injuries. Now he has won [a Masters 1000].»
As for himself, Tomic admits that it is hard to imagine matching his previous career-high ranking of 17. But he’s happy to keep moving in that direction.
«It’s different,» he said. «I was 17 in the world, it was different in my prime. Top 100 is very achievable. We saw [Vacherot] go from No.204 and I think he's [No.40] in the world. That's why I'm playing, challenging myself. The goal is Top 100, and it's there. I can even push to be Top 50, but it just depends how motivated I am.
«You have to be motivated. You have to drive yourself. It's a goal for me. Like I said, if I get to Top 100, and if it satisfies me or doesn't, then I will see if I'll [continue to] play.»
But somewhere along the way Tomic lost motivation.
He fell out of the Top 100 in the second half of 2017 and eventually, after spending another year between No.73 and No.96 in the world, he dropped out of the Top 100 for good.
He’s been on the outside looking in since September of 2019, but this year a resurgent Tomic has worked his way back to relevance at the age of 32.
After reaching the main draw in Almaty today with a hard-fought win over Marc-Andrea Heusler he told reporters that he is enjoying the challenge of targeting the Top 100.
«Just challenging myself,» he said. «I got a little bit bored a couple of years ago. I wasn't practicing much when I was 25, 26 and had a long pause, so it took me a while to figure out what I was doing. It’s tough when you get older, you need time. Doesn't matter how good you are, you need to train, you need to practice. The process to get back is even tougher.»
Tomic has won 40 matches on tour this year, across all levels, and now sits at No.168 in the ATP rankings.
He isn’t sure what the future holds, or if he’ll even continue to play if he reaches his current goal.
«I'm doing this for a challenge, for myself,» he said. «I was [around] 1000 in the world, and now I'm back to [168], so I'm trying to challenge myself to get back.
«If I get back to Top 100, then I'll see.»
That said, Tomic knows that it doesn’t take much for lightning to strike. He was keenly aware of the success of Valentin Vacherot this weekend in Shanghai. The Monagesque won the title from qualifying and jumped 164 spots in the rankings from 204 to No.40.
«We're seeing guys like Vacherot who won [the Shanghai title on Sunday],» Tomic pointed out. «Incredible. I played him a couple of times. I beat him a couple times, but he's a good friend of mine. He's a really nice guy, and I wish very good things upon him.»
Tomic is 2-0 against Vacherot, with a win against him in 2023 and 2024.
«I knew he was going to be a good player,» the Aussie said. «I played him three years ago. I said for sure, he's going to be Top 50, Top 30, and he had a little bit of injuries. Now he has won [a Masters 1000].»
As for himself, Tomic admits that it is hard to imagine matching his previous career-high ranking of 17. But he’s happy to keep moving in that direction.
«It’s different,» he said. «I was 17 in the world, it was different in my prime. Top 100 is very achievable. We saw [Vacherot] go from No.204 and I think he's [No.40] in the world. That's why I'm playing, challenging myself. The goal is Top 100, and it's there. I can even push to be Top 50, but it just depends how motivated I am.
«You have to be motivated. You have to drive yourself. It's a goal for me. Like I said, if I get to Top 100, and if it satisfies me or doesn't, then I will see if I'll [continue to] play.»
For more information, please follow our social media accounts Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
14.11.2025
KTF press-service
