Bernard Tomic abandons match after bizarre mid-match argument with girlfriend
- Bernard Tomic has a ‘couple quarrel’ with girlfriend
- Aussie leaves tennis match during second set
- Tomic complained of illness throughout the match
Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic has withdrawn from an ATP Challengers event mid-match after getting into a bizarre on-court argument with his girlfriend.
Tomic, once ranked as high as No. 17 in the world, is playing on the Challengers circuit in hopes of improving his ranking and playing against the world’s best again.
But the 31-year-old, now ranked No. 247, struggled against Japan’s Yuta Shimizu at the Little Rock Open in Arkansas.
Tomic went down 6-1 in the first set and looked extremely distracted and uninterested throughout.
Bernard Tomic got into an argument with girlfriend Keely Hannah during the match
The couple argued about how the Australian tennis star had become ill, with Tomic suspecting he had COVID
The former junior world number 1 also complained of illness during the match and sought medical attention several times.
“I haven’t seen him move a single ball and he literally misses everything,” tennis writer Zachary Cohen wrote on X.
“He had the doctors come over and told them his girlfriend tested positive for Covid this morning.”
Before the second set started, the Aussie became involved in an argument with his girlfriend Keely Hannah, who was sitting in the stands.
“Bernard and his girlfriend keep arguing,” the ATP Challengers commentator said.
“Basically, Bernie says, ‘You tested positive for COVID today,’ while the girlfriend says, ‘No, that was two weeks ago.’
“I didn’t expect to be here commenting on a couple’s argument, but here we are.
“Anyway, awkward for all the fans here who just want to see a little tennis tonight, but I don’t know if they’ll get it.”
Commentators describe the bizarre scenes on court as ‘awkward’
Tomic eventually withdrew from the match in the second set due to illness
Tomic opted to withdraw from the match and later tested positive for COVID.
“Okay, that’s enough. So retiring due to illness is Bernard Tomic,” the commentator announced.
“Well, that’s a very awkward way to end, and a rather ‘Bernie’ way to end, isn’t it? Hard way to go out.
‘Tomic now, we’ll see if he can recover. And again, how on earth did he win that match a few days ago?’
