Hewitt and Tomic Losses Mark Aussie Low at Wimbledon

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Hewitt and Tomic Losses Mark Aussie Low at Wimbledon

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Getty Images

(June 26th, 2012) If you worry about the state of American men's tennis lately, it could be worse. You could be Australian.

Australia's best hope for another Wimbledon title No. 20 seed Bernard Tomic, a quarterfinalist last year, bowed out in four sets during his opening round match against Belgium's David Goffin 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The loss may throw Tomic out of the top 50 in the ATP rankings and he only has himself to blame based on a candid press conference he gave after the loss where Tomic admitted he had not been training hard enough off-court.

"I have sort of lacked off a little bit and look what it’s costing me. Last eight, nine weeks I’m losing a lot of first, second rounds. So it’s not my quality of tennis," said Tomic. "My quality of tennis should be getting to a lot of semifinals, finals at tournaments or even winning where I had chances last eight weeks, but lack of concentration, not working hard, it costs you."

The nation that gave us tennis legends Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall suffered a bad day on the lawns of Wimbledon as not only did Tomic lose but also 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt and rising hope Matthew Ebden. With their defeats, it marks the first time since 1938 that no Australian man will be in the second round of Wimbledon.

While Hewitt's career is nearing its end, Tomic is viewed by many as the only Australian man with the talent capable of reaching the Wimbledon finals since Mark Philippousis did it back in 2003.