Bernard Tomic has joined the Australian exodus from the Wimbledon singles draws, falling in straight sets to Germany’s 27th seed Mischa Zverev.

Tomic hurt his back midway through the opening set and was clearly hindered in the 6-4 6-3 6-4 first-round defeat on Tuesday.

With Nick Kyrgios retiring with a hip injury just two sets into his opener against Pierre-Hugues Herbert and John Millman and Andrew Whittington also losing, only Thanasi Kokkinakis or Jordan Thompson can save Australia from a humiliating first-ever Wimbledon first-round men’s wipeout.

Kokkinakis and Thompson both play seeds in their openers on Tuesday.

Tomic, who reached the fourth round last year for the second time since making the last eight as a teenager in 2011, has a history of back trouble.

The 24-year-old seemed to have jarred it while bending down to attempt an innocuous half-volley.

He dropped serve for the first time soon after to concede the opening set before labouring on for several games until calling for treatment while trailing by a break and 4-3 in the second.

He needed medication but Zverev only needed one more service break in the third set to wrap up the match after just 84 minutes.

Zverev famously removed world No.1 Andy Murray from the Australian Open in January and is enjoying a career-high ranking at age 29.

Tomic, though, had beaten the crafty left-hander only last week in Eastbourne, but was unable to combat the German’s 18 aces and 41 winners.

The Queenslander can now expect to plummet even further down the rankings from his current standing as the world No.59, having soared to a career-high 17th only last year.

-AAP