Bernard Tomic has failed to qualify for the Australian Open singles draw, losing a do-or-die qualifying match against little-known Italian Lorenzo Sonego in three sets on Sunday.

Sonego, 22, and ranked 218 in the world, had never qualified for a grand slam singles draw before beating the prodigiously talented Australian 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 on Sunday.

Bernard Tomic lost his do-or-die qualifier. Credit:JULIAN SMITH

Tennis Australia chose not to hand Tomic an automatic wildcard spot in the lead up to the event, nor did he take up the offer of a spot in the wildcard play-off in December.

Had he won, world No.142 Tomic would have been making his 10th consecutive appearance in the Australian Open singles draw.