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Bernard Tomic Reconsiders Retirement After Winning First Challenger Title Since 2018

The breakthrough marks his first Challenger victory in eight years and boosts his ranking to 170, renewing his pursuit of higher-level competition.

Asude Karataş • 20 Temmuz 2026 21:00 • 3 dk okuma • 17 görüntülenme

Bernard Tomic has delayed his retirement plans after capturing the ATP Lincoln Challenger singles title in Nebraska, his first Challenger victory since 2018. The 33-year-old Australian defeated Estonian fifth seed Mark Lajal in a tight three-set contest, winning 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, and climbing 36 ranking positions from world No. 206 to 170 in the live standings.

Tomic entered this week ranked significantly outside the top 100, having struggled to sustain momentum following a career high of 17 in 2016. The match against Lajal proved decisive for the veteran's future, as he saved a championship point before securing victory. In the semifinal, Tomic defeated American wildcard Spencer Johnson 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final.

The Lincoln tournament, now in its third year, marked a turning point for Tomic's career trajectory. He had publicly stated weeks before the event that this year would likely be his last as a professional. However, the title win has prompted reconsideration. "A couple of weeks ago I said this was probably my last year and I guess I will reassess things now," Tomic said in his post-match interview. "I've been trying to win a Challenger for the last four years and finally won one."

The breakthrough arrives as Tomic balances personal milestones with professional ambitions. He became a first-time father in April with the birth of his daughter. On serve, Tomic demonstrated precision with 72 percent first-serve accuracy and nine aces against Lajal, a 23-year-old player ranked 150th. Looking ahead, Tomic indicated interest in competing at the US Open and building momentum from his Lincoln success.

Tomic's career has been marked by significant peaks and valleys. He reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011 and claimed his fourth and most recent ATP singles title at the 2015 Claro Open Colombia in Bogota. Recent attempts at top-level competition have yielded limited results, including a second-round qualifying loss at Wimbledon to fellow Australian Chris O'Connell.

What was Bernard Tomic's ranking before and after the Lincoln Challenger?+

Tomic entered the tournament ranked No. 206 in the world and improved to No. 170 following his Challenger title victory, a gain of 36 positions.

How long had it been since Tomic's last Challenger title?+

Tomic's previous Challenger title came in 2018 in Mallorca, Spain, making the Lincoln victory his first in eight years and fourth career Challenger title overall.

Did Tomic face any close moments in the final match?+

Yes, Tomic saved a championship point against Mark Lajal during the match before ultimately prevailing in three sets with a 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 scoreline.

What was Tomic's career-high ranking?+

Tomic reached a career high of No. 17 in 2016, representing the peak of his professional tennis career before his subsequent decline in rankings.

What are Tomic's immediate plans following the Challenger title?+

Tomic indicated interest in competing at the US Open and building on the confidence gained from his Lincoln victory to pursue a return to higher-level competition.

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