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Aussie tennis bad boys snubbed again for Newcombe Medal

Bernard Tomic has missed out on qualifying for the Australian Open. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
21st November, 2016
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Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have again been snubbed as nominees for Australia’s top tennis award, the Newcombe Medal.

In a season that ended in an three-week suspension following a meltdown in Shanghai, world No.13 Kyrgios’s failure to be nominated as the country’s “most outstanding elite tennis player and ambassador for the sport” comes as little surprise.

But Tomic perhaps can feel a little stiff to at least not be shortlisted next to Dylan Alcott, Daria Gavrilova, John Millman, John Peers, Samantha Stosur and Jordan Thompson.

While his season tapered off, Tomic spent much of the year in the top 20, reaching two grand slam fourth rounds and making a final in Mexico.

Potentially held against him was a decision not to make himself available for the Rio Olympics while holding his racquet head instead of the handle when facing match point at the Madrid Open was hardly a good look.

Alcott and Gavrilova would be the likely favourites for the award which will be handed out in Melbourne next Monday.

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Wheelchair tennis player Alcott won the Australian Open in 2016 and took out gold in singles and doubles at the Paralympic Games.

Gavrilova reached a career high No.25 in 2016 and made the final of the Moscow Open to close in on Stosur’s Australian No.1 ranking.

“This year has been just incredible for me,” Gavrilova said in a statement.

“Winning the Hopman Cup with Nick (Kyrgios), getting to represent Australia in Fed Cup and at the Olympics and now this, a nomination for the Newcombe Medal.

“I’m so proud and grateful. It’s a real privilege and I’m looking forward to being there on the night.”

Kyrgios and Tomic were also overlooked in 2015 when other issues held sway over on-court performance.

Last year’s award went to Sam Groth who had a horror 2016, plummeting to No.181 in the world.

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