Young Australian Bernard Tomic has crashed out of the Brisbane International this morning.
The 17-year-old wildcard led 3-1 in the first set before the wheels fell off, losing 6-4 6-4 to qualifier Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jnr in the first round.
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His Ukraine opponent broke Tomic twice to win the next four games before cruising to claim the opening set.
The news didn’t get any better for Tomic in the second set.
He was broken in the opening game and that’s all the qualifier needed to extend his professional career record to 2-5, closing out the game in just over an hour.
Yet Tomic did not seem to think his early exit was a setback before using his Australian Open wildcard.
Asked what what was the biggest lesson he learnt from Tuesday’s match, Tomic laughed: “Hold serve at 3-1 up”.
Tomic next plays in Adelaide’s World Tennis Challenge from January 12-14 ahead of the Open.
It did not look like being Australia’s day at the Brisbane International, with qualifier Nick Lindahl bowing out to fourth seeded Czech Tomas Berdych in the first round 6-2 6-4.
But wildcard Carsten Ball flew the flag, bundling out German Mischa Zverev 7-5 6-1.
His reward will be taking on top seed Andy Roddick in the second round.
In other men’s first round results, James Blake dropped fellow American and fifth seed Sam Querrey 4-6 6-3 6-4 and ex-Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis accounted for American Mardy Fish 7-5 7-5.
View the full order of play and draws
Men Round 1
Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. (UKR) d Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-4 6-4
4-Tomas Berdych (CZE) d Nick Lindahl (AUS) 6-2 6-4