“I love it. What an effort for Bernie to get back,” Millman told this masthead.

“Obviously, he’s not the player he once was. I mean, he was top 20 in the world, so he’s not at that level, but to go out there and go through the Futures and Challengers the way he has [was a big effort]. These are really unglamorous tournaments, and I think the general public doesn’t really realise that.

“Unless you live and breathe tennis, you don’t know what they’re like, those Futures and Challengers – it’s a tough tour, you’re not getting paid that much, and you can be going to some far-out places.”

Tomic’s most-recent grand slam appearance was a 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the first round of Australian Open qualifying in 2022. During that match, he audibly claimed he had COVID-19 and there was insufficient testing of players.

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Tomic was vindicated when he tested positive for the virus post-match.

The last time he made the main draw in a grand slam was a year earlier, when he qualified at Melbourne Park and reached the second round before losing to Canadian Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.

Millman said Tomic had been a bit misunderstood across the years.

“I think it’s probably been a little bit of a tougher upbringing for Bernie than what I had it,” he said.

“I was in maybe a slightly more supportive environment growing up, so I think at times, he’s had to do it pretty tough – and he’s managed to come out the other side of that. I’ve got a lot of time for Bernie, and I think that he made it very young, too.

“I’m not comparing Lleyton and Bernie here whatsoever, but I also remember when people maybe harshly judged Lleyton when he cracked onto the scene.

“You’ve got to remember, he was doing that at 18, 19. I was a lot different at 18 and 19 [than I am now]. I was a very different person, you mature – and I think Bernie has matured, too.”

Nick Kyrgios will also return from two injury-ruined years at next month’s Australian Open.

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However, a source familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told this masthead the 29-year-old was set to use his protected ranking, which injured players can apply for when they miss an extended period, rather than receive a wildcard.

Tennis Australia was contacted for comment.

Swiss great and 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, who turns 40 in March, is poised to score a wildcard, but Japan’s Kei Nishikori – a four-time quarter-finalist in Melbourne – will not.

High-profile wildcard recipients, such as Venus Williams (dual runner-up) and Caroline Wozniacki (2018 champion), typically must have made a final to be in contention. Tournament boss Craig Tiley makes the call on those wildcards.

Assuming world No.105 Max Purcell sneaks into the main draw as a direct entrant, fellow Australians Alex Bolt, Tristan Schoolkate, Li Tu, Omar Jasika and James McCabe appear to be jostling for four men’s wildcards.

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