Covid saga on court sparks Bernard Tomic's unconventional match exit in Arkansas

Monday, 03 June 2024 at 03:00

Former World No. 17 Bernard Tomic abandoned a match following an argument with his girlfriend. The Australian tennis player was competing at the Little Rock Challenger in Arkansas as the 5th seed and had advanced to the second round after defeating American Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

The current World No. 247 faced Japan’s Yuta Shimizu in the second round, playing an irregular first set without any break opportunities and winning only 11 points to his opponent's 29, resulting in a decisive 6-1 for the Japanese player.

Strong argument with girlfriend

The 31-year-old began to complain of feeling unwell while competing. According to expert Zachary Cohen, Tomic had spoken with a doctor early in the morning, stating that his girlfriend had tested positive for Covid.

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As the players prepared to start the second set, Tomic and his girlfriend Keely Hannah began an unusual argument with verbal exchanges between the court and the bench. An ATP Challenger commentator described the incident as ‘uncomfortable,’ as the couple argued in front of the audience about her positive Covid test.

"Bernard and his girlfriend just continuing to argue,” the commentator explained. "The long and short of it, Bernie saying, 'You tested positive for Covid today', girlfriend saying, 'No, that was two weeks ago'.

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"I did not anticipate having to commentate a couple's quarrel here - but here we are. Either way, uncomfortable for all the fans here, who are just wanting to see a little bit of tennis tonight, but I don't know that they're going to get it," the commentator added.

Following the argument, Tomic spoke with the umpire and retired from the match after just 23 minutes, advancing his opponent to the quarterfinals. It was later confirmed that the Australian player tested positive for Covid: "All right, that does it. So, retiring due to illness is Bernard Tomic,” the commentator said.

"Well, that's a very awkward way to end, and a rather 'Bernie' way to end, isn't it? Tough way to go out. Tomic now, we'll see if he's able to recover. And again, how the heck did he win that match [against Thai-Son Kwiatkowski] a couple of days ago?"

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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