Bernard Tomic's Australian Open comeback bid crumbled as he suffered a second-round qualifying loss at Melbourne Park. The 33-year-old veteran, seeking his first main draw appearance in five years, fell short against Great Britain's Arthur Fery, ending his chances of a comeback. Tomic, who had expressed excitement about playing in front of home fans after his first-round win, declined post-match interviews, leaving questions about his future in the sport. Meanwhile, Ajla Tomljanovic's Australian Open journey is also in doubt after she was forced to retire hurt during her Adelaide International match against Maya Joint. The 32-year-old, who had won the initial two games, called a medical timeout leading 2-0 due to a right shoulder injury, raising concerns about her participation in the main tournament. These setbacks contrast with the progress of other Australian players, such as World No. 32 Joint, who advanced to the quarterfinals in Adelaide, and Madison Keys, the defending Australian Open champion, who also moved on to the quarterfinals in the same tournament. The Australian Open qualifying rounds have seen a mix of results, with some veterans aiming for comebacks and others, like Tomic and Tomljanovic, facing challenges that could impact their tournament prospects.
