19TH Jun 2009
Tomic falls at final hurdle
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AAP
Bernard’s dream of making his maiden appearance in the Wimbledon men’s draw was dashed on Thursday when he went down in the final round of qualifying.
Tomic was beaten by Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who qualified for the third straight year with a 7-6(1) 6-4 6-0 win.
The 16-year-old Queenslander amused the crowd with his efforts to re-focus against the world No.172 as the match started to slip away from him, muttering: “This is the first round of Wimbledon against Federer.”
Tomic, who last year reached the Wimbledon boy’s semifinals, stood his ground in the first set but the experience of the Frenchman nine years his senior was telling.
Bernard will compete in the Wimbledon Junior event.
