Just a week after being let go by management company IMG, Australia’s Bernard Tomic made a positive statement from that setback with a title-run at the Claro Open Colombia on Sunday. Tomic defeated defending champion Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in three sets 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 in a match that lasted two hours and 13 minutes. This is Tomic’s second career. This is a significant comeback for the Australian after undergoing double hip surgery after the Australian Open back in January.
Ranked 124th prior to the tournament, Tomic will make a grand return in the world’s top 100 at number 70 on Monday. He became the third player outside of the world’s top 100 this seasn to win the title following wins by last week’s Swedish Open champion Pablo Cuevas and Martin Klizan (Munich) with both being ranked 111th that time.
“He’s a very difficult player,” said Tomic about the Croatian. “He won here last year. For me it was a difficult match. I kept trying and believing in myself. Against him, if you stop believing and trying he will beat you.
“It’s my first tournament on hard courts since my surgeries in Australia. This title is huge and it’s one I will always remember.”
Karlovic was fresh from a runner-up finish in Newport a week ago. He’s now lost his fourth straight final this year and is now 5-7 in ATP Finals.
“It is difficult when you lose like this,” said Karlovic. “I had a lot of opportunities in the beginning. All in all it was a great week. I was in the final again and I can only be happy. I really like the conditions here and hopefully I will be back next year.”
