Bernard Tomic Dominates Hugo Dellien to Surge Toward AO Main Draw

MELBOURNE: Former world No. 17 Bernard Tomic has ignited his Australian Open campaign, securing a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien in the first round of qualifying on Monday evening.

Playing in front of a vocal home crowd at the 1573 Arena, the 33-year-old Australian showcased a level of tennis that harkened back to his career-best form, relying on a powerful service game and clinical net play to dismantle his opponent in straight sets.

Tomic set the tone immediately, firing consecutive aces in his opening service game. While Dellien showed resilience in the early stages, Tomic’s variety and precision proved too much to handle. Despite a few unforced errors in the opening games, Tomic broke through Dellien’s serve mid-way through the first set, eventually cruising to a 6-3 lead.

Tomic angers rival, fires up fans in ‘bananas’ qualifying win.

The second set followed a similar trajectory. While both players held serve early, Tomic’s efficiency at the net—highlighted by multiple volley winners—kept the pressure on the Bolivian.

The frustration of the match became visible for Dellien, who was spotted smashing his racquet during a changeover as the match began to slip away. Tomic remained composed, breaking Dellien once more to close out the match with ease.

With this victory, Tomic moves into the second round of the qualifying tournament. He now stands just two wins away from securing a coveted spot in the Australian Open main draw at Melbourne Park.

“Bernie” appears to have the momentum of the Melbourne crowd behind him, with local fans providing a raucous atmosphere that Tomic leaned into throughout the evening.