Former world No 17 Bernard Tomic fell just short of winning his third consecutive title this past week. At the ITF event in Harlingen, Tomic made the final before Martin Damm edged him out 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-4. Tomic, who captured back-to-back ITF titles in Cancun earlier this month, also won his first four matches in Harlingen to push his winning to 14 consecutive wins.
Unfortunately for Tomic, he then just missed out on clinching his 15th consecutive win and third consecutive title.
How Tomic lost to Damm?
Tomic earned the first break of the match in the 11th game to open a 6-5 lead, but missed out on a set point in the following game as Damm broke back to force a tie-break.
Failing to serve out for the first set didn’t impact Tomic, who realized his second set point in the tie-break to win a tight opener. After losing the first set, Damm bounced back in the second set as he broke Tomic in the first and ninth games to send the match into a decider.
In the very first game of the third set, Tomic broke Damm and had a 4-2 lead after the opening six games of the decider. Then, Tomic’s game collapsed as Damm broke the Australian in back-to-back to win four games in a row and to complete a comeback win.
Even though Tomic didn’t win, it was another promising sign in his comeback journey. “I’ve had a lot of hate in my life. But I can’t give up. You don’t think I see the hate comments? It hurts,” Tomic said in December.
“In the past I used to let it get to me and react out of stupidity. But now I’m using it as fuel. I’m back. I’m hungry, and I’m ready. No one can stop me now, but me. “I’m training, I’m sweating, I’m pushing, I’m fired up.
Whatever it takes to get back on top. Hard work pays off. I’ve put my blood sweat and tears into this sport. I have come back before. It’s time to set the record straight.”
