A candid speaking Bernard Tomic has sparked further criticism after saying he has managed to achieve what he has in tennis with ‘50% effort’ put into his career.
In an exclusive TV interview with Channel 7 Australia, Tomic has declared that his love for the sport is no more and he only plays for money. At the Wimbledon championships, he was handed a hefty fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. Following his first round loss, Tomic said he felt ‘bored’ during his match.
“It was a patch I was going through. I wasn’t motivated the last four, five months. I feel like I need to find my balance, I need to find my mindset whether it’s now or in one month or in three months, it will come and it’s only going to be on my terms,” he said.
Critics have accused the 24-year-old of deliberately tanking during his Wimbledon match. An allegation he has denied. So far this season, Tomic has won nine out of 24 matches played and has suffered nine first round losses.
“I don’t tank. I just get disappointed in myself. I get angry with myself. I forget about the score and I think about different things even though I’m on the court. I was a bit confused and nervous.’’
Tomic’s approach to the world of tennis is different to that of his rivals, but some have praised his honesty. Although such honesty has resulted in him losing his sponsorship contract with racket sensor Head. The same company that publicly backed Maria Sharapova throughout her doping suspension.
Now ranked 69th in the world, Tomic describes himself as ‘trapped.’ He may no longer love the sport, but he isn’t considering retirement anytime soon. Instead, he is going to treat it like an everyday job. A bold statement from a player who earned more than $5 million in prize money.
“I never loved tennis. I am just going to go about it as a job.” Yahoo Australia quoted him as saying.
“Wouldn’t anyone want to take a job in a professional sport in one of the biggest sports in the world and only give 50, 60 per cent and earn millions of dollars? I think everybody would take that.”
Strangely relishing in the fact that he managed to achieve so much with little effort, it remains to be seen what the future holds. His support among the Australian public is certainly fading. Even more so when he told critics to ‘just go back dreaming about your dream car or house while I go buy them’.
“I don’t regret what I said … I said that to piss people off,’’ said Tomic.
“I want people to know who I truly am, that I’m not a cocky person like they say and I’m an honest person.’’
Pat Rafter conflict
Tomic has also released another scathing attack on former world No.1 Pat Rafter. In 2015 he described Rafter as a ‘good actor’ amid an ongoing confrontation between Tennis Australian and the Tomic family. Two years on from that outburst, there have been no improvement in relations.
“Pat’s said a lot of bad things about me throughout my career, and he’s always perceived as this nice guy,” Tomic commented about Rafter.
“This image — people don’t know him behind closed doors. He’s not that much of a nice guy.
“And he’s — you know, he likes to put on a show.”
Rafter stepped down as the performance director of Tennis Australia in February.
It is unclear as to when Tomic will resume ‘his job.’ He recently pulled out of the Atlanta Open due to a foot problem.
