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After a decent run in 2023, the former Major quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic starts the new season from inside the top-300. Bernard picked Nonthaburi for his first stop in 2024, entering back-to-back Bangkok Open Challengers.
Tomic made a winning start last week before withdrawing ahead of the second qualifying round. The Aussie made the main draw at this week’s Bangkok Open 2 Challenger, facing Yasutaka Uchiyama in the first round. The Japanese prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 in two hours and one minute, erasing a 4-2 deficit in the decider and succeeding in the tie break for a winning start.
Tomic won seven points more than his rival thanks to a reliable performance in the second set. The Aussie grabbed three breaks and lost serve two times, missing his chances in the decider and experiencing an early exit. Bernard opened a 40-0 lead in the encounter’s third game before dropping four straight points and facing a break point after Yasutaka’s volley winner.
Tomic denied it with a forced error and held to avoid an early setback.
Bernard Tomic lost to Yasutaka Uchiyama in the Bangkok Open first round.
They served well in the upcoming games, and the Japanese fired an ace in game eight for 4-4.
Uchiyama played well from the baseline in the ninth game, creating two break points and seizing the second with a volley winner, opening a 5-4 advantage. Yasutaka served for the set in game ten and held at love after Bernard’s careless backhand for 6-4 in 35 minutes.
Tomic produced four fine holds in the second set and found his A-game on the return, breaking his rival two times and forcing a decider. Bernard held at love in game three for 2-1 and placed a backhand return winner in the next one for two break points.
Uchiyama missed a forehand on the first, falling 3-1 behind and pushing Tomic in front.
The Aussie produced two fine holds and grabbed another break at 5-2 with a lob winner, forcing a decider after an hour and three minutes and gaining a boost.
They served well in the final set’s opening five games, and Bernard clinched a break in the sixth game for a 4-2 advantage. Instead of building on that, the Aussie lost serve in the next game after the Japanese’s volley winner, missing a chance to cement his lead.
The returners had no opportunities in the final five games, arranging a deciding tie break. Tomic led 3-2 before Uchiyama claimed two points on his serve for 4-3. Bernard netted a slice in the eighth point before pulling the mini-break back in the tenth point after forcing the rival’s mistake.
Uchiyama earned a match point with a service winner at 5-5 and seized it with a backhand down the line winner at the net.
