'I will test positive, I'm telling you', says Bernard Tomic as he exits Australian Open qualifying

During qualifying at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, Tomic told the on-court umpire that he's certain to test positive to COVID-19.

Sporting a new-look peroxide blond hairdo, Tomic dished up his usual antics on Melbourne's Kia Arena on Tuesday in his match against Russian rising star Roman Safiullin.

Trailing 1-2 in the second set, Tomic told umpire Aline Da Rocha Nocinto at the change-over he thought he had the virus.

"I'm sure in the next two days I will test positive, I'm telling you," the 29-year-old said from his chair.

"I'll buy you dinner if I don't test positive in three days, otherwise you buy me dinner (to the umpire)."

Tomic told her he couldn't believe there was no official PCR testing for players, with only a rapid test required.

"They're allowing players to come on court with rapid tests in their room, c'mon ... no official PCR testing," he said.

Tomic did not speak to after the match but posted to Instagram instead: "Feeling really sick, I'm now back in my hotel room.

"Just spoke to the doctors on site and they've asked me to isolate. They couldn't treat me yet to avoid contact.

"Thank you for all the support on the court today. I really appreciate it! I'll do better next time. Very disappointed as I really wanted to make Aussies proud and perform well on my home turf."

During the match a trainer attended to Tomic at the first changeover in the opening set and the player was seen taking his pulse while out on court.

The 29-year-old was broken in fourth game and quickly capitulated, losing the first set in just 23 minutes.

He went on to lose in straight sets - 6-1 6-4 - in under an hour.

The former world No.17, now ranked 257, hasn't played in an ATP tournament since September, when he retired in the first round of a qualifier event in Kazakhstan.

That loss was his fifth in a row but he arrived in Melbourne vowing to again climb the rankings.

- with Australian Associated Press