Kyrgios, Tomic headed for Wimbledon clash

Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic could be headed for a mouth-watering all-Australian Wimbledon showdown.

Bernard Tomic has emerged as a huge threat to Nick Kyrgios's title hopes after gaining a dramatic Wimbledon lifeline.

Tomic could face Kyrgios in a third-round blockbuster after receiving an 11th-hour entry to the main draw after a crushing qualifying loss to Belgian Davis Cup player Ruben Bemelmans.

Instead of being directed to the exit gates after his humbling 6-3 6-1 6-2 defeat, Tomic will face fellow final-round qualifying "lucky loser" Hubert Hurkacz on Tuesday in his ninth straight appearance at London's grass-court grand slam.

Kyrgios will open his campaign against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in what looks to be the most inviting draw for Australia's top title hope since he gate-crashed the quarter-finals as a teenage sensation on debut in 2014.

The 15th seed is slated to strike world No.3 Alexander Zverev in the round of 16 and seventh-seeded French Open finalist Dominic Thiem, hardly a noted grass-courter, or fallen force Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

Nadal, who Kyrgios famously tamed en route to the last eight four years ago, could be lying in wait in the semi-finals.

Tomic, though, looms as Kyrgios's more immediate danger.

Also a former quarter-finalist, the enigmatic Tomic has roared to life during the European summer after being seemingly headed towards tennis oblivion following an infamous flirtation with reality TV earlier this year.

The 25-year-old has since enjoyed his best-ever clay-court campaign, reeling off seven-straight wins on his least preferred surface and qualifying for last month's French Open before continuing his resurgence to reach the semi-finals on grass in s-Hertogenbosch.

Victory over the 123rd-ranked Hurkacz would vault Tomic into a second-round shootout with Kei Nishikori or American qualifier Christian Harrison.

Tomic and Kyrgios had been drawn to square off in the first round at Roland Garros, only for Kyrgios to withdraw on match eve with ongoing elbow soreness.

But a first-time showdown between Australia's two most polarising and controversial talents on the the sport's greatest stage at Wimbledon would be an even more mouth-watering prospect.

Tomic's good fortune and Kyrgios's enticing opportunity aside, it was a tough draw for most of Australia's 14-strong singles contingent.

James Duckworth was pitted against Zverev in round one, Matt Ebden drew Belgian 10th seed David Goffin, while Jordan Thompson struck 11th seed Sam Querrey, the big-serving American who has taken out defending champions Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray respectively over the past two years.

Women's No.1 Ashleigh Barty will launch her title quest against Swiss Stefanie Voegele and could face Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina in round three.

Daria Gavrilova, the 26th seed, plays Kazakh Zarina Diyas and could run into Fed Cup teammate Samantha Stosur in round two.

Stosur plays China's Peng Shuai first up, with Ajla Tomljanovic presented a challenging opener against 10th seed Madison Keys.


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Source: AAP



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