AUSTRALIAN tennis star Bernard Tomic ABANDONED his match in America after an on-court row with his girlfriend.
The former World No17 has struggled in recent years, dropping outside the top 200 and onto the Challenger Tour – a level below the elite competitions.
And his lack of form was evident at the Little Rock Open in Arkansas as Japan’s Yuta Shimizu won the first set 6-1 with a dominant display.
Tomic became increasingly frustrated during the match and also complained of illness, calling for medical attention on a number of occasions.
Sports writer Zachary Cohen reported that Tomic was “missing literally everything” and had told doctors his girlfriend, Keely Hannah, had “tested positive for Covid this morning”.
Before the second set got underway, Tomic and Keely, who went public with their relationship in January 2022, then got involved in a heated exchange as they disputed the timing of her positive Covid test.
The ATP Challengers commentator revealed what was being said, telling viewers: “Bernard and his girlfriend just continuing to argue.
“The long and short of it, Bernie saying, ‘You tested positive for Covid today’, girlfriend saying, ‘No, that was two weeks ago’.
“I did not anticipate having to commentate a couple’s quarrel here – but here we are.
“Either way, uncomfortable for all the fans here, who are just wanting to see a little bit of tennis tonight, but I don’t know that they’re going to get it.”
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Prior to play resuming, Tomic, who later tested positive for Covid, then retired from the match.
The commentator added: “All right, that does it. So, retiring due to illness is Bernard Tomic.
“Well, that’s a very awkward way to end, and a rather ‘Bernie’ way to end, isn’t it? Tough way to go out.
“Tomic now, we’ll see if he’s able to recover. And again, how the heck did he win that match a couple of days ago?”
Former junior World No1 Tomic reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 13 years ago before he was knocked out by Novak Djokovic – his best performance in a Grand Slam.
He has not qualified for the main draw of a Slam since the 2021 Australian Open when Denis Shapovalov beat him in the second round.
