Lucky loser controversy: Zachary Svajda retires, Bernard Tomic withdraws – but both still make ATP main draws
ATP
There has been some lucky loser controversy ahead of the DC Open and Los Cabos Open. Despite retiring from their matches, both Zachary Svajda and Bernard Tomic both are rewarded with spots in the main draw.
The lucky loser system has again come into question following these events. It is implemented for the highest ranked player who lost their final qualifying match to take the spots of any withdrawals. It can be an advantageous position to be in.
Already this season, there have been some unexpected lucky loser runs. Donna Vekic winning the Queen's Club Championships title and Anastasia Potapova reaching the semi-finals of the Madrid Open two prime examples from this year alone.
Both Svajda and Tomic will hope for similar runs in their respected tournaments, Svajda sticking on home soil while the Aussie makes the trip to Mexico.
Lucky loser controversy as Svajda and Tomic capitalise
There was a huge story in the DC Open qualifying as Cruz Hewitt, son of former World No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt, blasted into his maiden ATP Tour main draw at the tender age of just 17.
He did this by defeating Svajda in an impressive comeback win, coming from a 5-3 deficit in the second set to get back on level terms. The home favourite, who has most recently reached the fourth round of Roland Garros and third round of Wimbledon, was forced to retire 2-0 down in the third.
The number one seed for qualifying would not be in despair long as he was handed a huge boost with a direct pathway into the main draw. The lucky loser will take on a different Aussie qualifier by the name of Aleksandar Vukic in the first round.
Moving south to Los Cabos, and a similar occurrence happened for the fortunate Tomic. After his first round win against Miguel Tobon in a tight 5-7, 6-5, 7-6(5) scoreline, he was set to return to the court against Tristan Boyer.
Bernard Tomic will compete in the main draw of the Los Cabos Open
Tomic, the number five seed, withdrew before the match even started allowing the number three seed a spot in the Los Cabos Open. This most certainly aided his way to being a lucky loser. Despite not even stepping onto the court for his second round match, he was drafted into the main draw in a move that has turned some heads.
Similar to Svajda, he will also tackle a qualifier going by Alex Hernandez, who will most certainly have the crowd behind him.
A rule change to consider?
Overall, this raises the problem with the currently lucky loser rules. In most sports, retiring or withdrawing from a match would instantly put you out of contention whatever the position. However, in this scenario it has worked out perfectly.
They will have the benefit of not playing as much tennis as intended if they were going to complete or play the match, boosting their chances in the upcoming tournament. There was no evidence that this was the motive behind their decisions.
The events both start on July 27, kicking off the North American hardcourt swing as the best players in the world gear up for what is going to be a very busy but entertaining period of tennis leading up to the US Open.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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