Breakthrough for Tomic after lean tennis times

Bernard Tomic continues to make an impression on the tennis tour and has won a Challenger event. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Bernard Tomic is reassessing his plans for retirement, with the Australian tennis veteran claiming his first Challenger Tour title in eight years.

Reaching the final of the Lincoln Challenger tournament in Nebraska, the 33-year-old dropped the opening set against Estonian fifth seed Mark Lajal.

However eighth-seeded Tomic showed grit to save a championship point before downing world No.150 Lajal 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3).

Defeated in his last three Challenger Tour finals since 2024, Tomic now has his fourth title, with the last coming in Mallorca, Spain, in 2018.

BACK IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE 🙌

Bernard Tomic survives Lajal 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(3) to win his first Challenger title since 2018!#ATPChallenger | @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/aNwqiDxKMT

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) July 20, 2026

Tomic admitted post match that he was considering retirement at the end of this year, having struggled to re-enter the world top 100 after reaching a career high of 17 in 2016.

He also became a first-time father in April, with his partner Keely Hannah giving birth to their daughter Astara.

However, on the back of the title win, Tomic has jumped from world No. 206 to 170 in the live rankings.

"A couple of weeks ago I said this was probably my last year and I guess I will reassess things things now," Tomic said in a post-match interview.

"I've been trying to win a Challenger for the last four years and finally won one.

"I've lost a couple of finals in the last couple of years and now that I'm back to 160-170 I've got to reassess things and try and have another crack."

New dad Bernard Tomic had struggled in recent Challenger Tour finals, losing his past three. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

The crafty Queenslander nailed his service games, on target with 72 per cent of first serves as well as nine aces to cause headaches for his 23-year-old rival.

Tomic also had a three-set battle to book his place in the final, downing American wildcard Spencer Johnson 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 6-2.

A quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2011 and a former junior champion there, Tomic recently lost in the second round of qualifying, falling to fellow Australian Chris O'Connell 6-4 6-4.

On the main ATP Tour, his fourth and last singles title was at the 2015 Claro Open Colombia in Bogota.