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Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter is pulling off the most delicate of diplomatic balancing acts at Wimbledon.
The two-time US Open champion has been welcomed into Bernard Tomic’s camp for the tournament and is doing his best to keep the young star’s father and coach, John, on side.
Tomic’s stunning third-round win over world No.5 Robin Soderling at the All England Club on Saturday underlined his value to Australian tennis.
There have been concerns over the influence of John Tomic and Bernard’s development under his father’s guidance.
But Rafter said he was not going to be rocking the boat, particularly when the future of Australia’s tennis gem is at stake.
“We are on the same wave-length which is really important,” Rafter said of his dealings with John.
“If I had different ideas I don’t think it would work very well.
“I want to work with what his father has done.
“He has done a great job and at this stage of Bernard’s career, the father is actually very important and he looks to his father.
“There might come a time when he does not want him there and John will listen to that. But right now I need the father there helping me too.”
The Tomics have been dogged by controversy in the past.
In December 2008 John told Bernard to walk off the court at an event in Perth in protest against the officiating.
Tomic junior received a ban and a fine and his father was forced to make a public apology.
Then at Wimbledon in 2009 he knocked back the chance to hit up with Lleyton Hewitt, the decision sparking a nasty slanging match between the camps of Australia’s two leading men’s talents.
Rafter said that Hewitt’s foot had pulled up well from this second-round loss to Soderling and that he would be available for the Jul 8-10 Davis Cup tie in China.
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