Bernard Tomic can make a statement on home soil after qualifying for the Australian Open when he takes on French Open surprise packet Marc Polmans in one of two all-Australian Murray River Open match-ups.
Former world No.17 Tomic won through to the main draw of the grand slam with three tough wins in Doha’s qualifying tournament earlier this month
Now sitting at No.229 in the world, Tomic has the chance to shoot back up the rankings with good performances in Melbourne this week and at his home slam, where he’s reached the fourth round three times.
Polmans was the last Australian man standing in Paris last year, the 23-year-old pushing 20th seed Cristian Garin in a tight second round.
They’ll play the last match on Margaret Court Arena on Monday night, while compatriots Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex Bolt do battle earlier in the day.
Both have Australian Open wildcards and possess the power to do damage, injury-plagued Kokkinakis boasting the scalp of Roger Federer and Bolt reaching the third round in Melbourne two years ago.
Edged for a spot in Australia’s ATP Cup side by John Millman, Nick Kyrgios will also feature in the Murray River Open on Tuesday.
James Duckworth and Alexei Popyri have also earned entries into that tournament while fellow Australians Jordan Thompson, Christopher O’Connell and Aleksandar Vukic will contest the Great Ocean Road Open, which runs concurrently at Melbourne Park.