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The 21-year-old, who was U.S. Open junior champion in 2009
and reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2011, slumped out
of the top 100 after surgery on both hips triggered a miserable
six months on and off court.
Dumped by his IMG management company, who signed him in his
early teens when he was regarded as a future grand slam
champion, Tomic also suffered the ignominy of the quickest
defeat in ATP Tour history.
After that 28-minute, 6-0 6-1 loss to Finn Jarkko Nieminen at
the Miami Masters in March, Tomic rallied and clinched only the
second singles title of his career at the Colombian Open last
month.
That was enough to send him back up the rankings to world number
70 but came too late to secure an automatic place in the main
draw at Flushing Meadows.
"I'm really happy with my tennis at the moment, and to be back
in the top 100," Tomic said in a Tennis Australia news
release."It's great to have the U.S. Open wild card and I'd like
to thank Tennis Australia for the opportunity.
"It means I can now focus on my preparation and be in the best
position to make the most of my chances.
"I've had some pretty good results over the last few weeks and I
hope I can continue to build on that."
Tomic joins compatriots Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 U.S. Open
champion, Nick Kyrgios, who beat Rafa Nadal on his way to the
last eight at Wimbledon this year, Marinko Matosevic, Matt Ebden
and Sam Groth in the main draw.
Jarmila Gajdosova also received a wild card for the women's draw
under a reciprocal arrangement between Tennis Australia and the
United States Tennis Association. The U.S. Open begins on Aug.
25.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
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Tomic
awarded U.S. Open wild card
