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Seven Years in the Wilderness: Bernard Tomic Is Back at a Masters 1000

Bernard Tomic, the Australian tennis star once hailed as a prodigy, has returned to the main draw of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament after a seven-year absence. The 33-year-old, who last competed at this level in 2016, kicked off his campaign in Shanghai with two straight wins over Terence Atmane and Timofey Skatov, setting up a first-round clash against Matteo Arnaldi.

If he continues his current form, Tomic could face Taylor Fritz in the second round, marking a potential resurgence for a player whose career has been marked by both brilliance and controversy. At his peak, Tomic reached a career-high ranking of No.

17 in 2016 and claimed four ATP titles, including a quarterfinal appearance in Shanghai, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the Hopman Cup during his youth. His unorthodox playing style—featuring flat forehands, moonballs, and a whippy serve—often left opponents baffled, though his lack of effort on court became a defining, and often criticized, aspect of his career.

High-profile meltdowns, including a 21-minute third-set loss to Andy Roddick at the 2012 US Open and a 28-minute first-round defeat to Jarkko Nieminen at the 2014 Miami Open, underscored his struggles with consistency and mental focus. Despite these setbacks, Tomic recorded nine career wins over top-10 players and showcased moments of brilliance when fully engaged, including a quarterfinal run in Shanghai and a junior Australian Open title at just 15 years old.

His journey back to the top tier of tennis reflects both the challenges of sustaining elite performance and the resilience of a player who once dominated with his unique game.

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