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Aussie players throw support behind Tomic

Bernard Tomic, of Australia, returns a shot from Gilles Muller, of Luxembourg, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Michael Noble)
31st January, 2018
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The olive branches may have run out from team captain Lleyton Hewitt but Australia’s Davis Cup players are still hopeful of a reconciliation with Bernard Tomic.

Doubles specialist John Peers hoped Tomic realised his ex-teammates were “there for him” after admitting it was hard to watch his ill-fated stint on Network Ten’s reality TV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here.

Hewitt doubted whether Tomic would play Davis Cup again after the ex-Wimbledon quarter-finalist told Ten this week Australia couldn’t win without him.

But Australia’s world No.4-ranked doubles specialist Peers kept the welcome mat out for Tomic after being saddened by what he saw on the reality show.

Former world No.17 Tomic quit I’m A Celebrity… after three nights in the South African jungle, citing depression.

Peers said he and his teammates were concerned for Tomic while watching the show in the lead-up to their Davis Cup first-round tie with Germany in Brisbane starting on Friday.

Asked if it was hard to watch, Peers said: “Yeah, it is.

“It’s sad what he is going through. We know he is going through a tough time personally.

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“We all hope he can come out the other side better.”

In contrast, Hewitt said this week that it was “highly doubtful” Tomic would play for Australia again after his TV stint.

“He’s digging a big hole for himself that he may never get out of,” he said of Tomic, who has a 17-4 Cup record.

But Peers kept his fingers crossed that Tomic can find success on the court again.

“Hopefully Bernie can find some form back on the tennis court,” he said.

“We have all had a lot to do with him so we all wish him the best and hopefully he can get back on the right foot.”

Asked if he would try to reach out to Tomic, Peers said: “We’ve all tried at different times.

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“Hopefully he understands that we are there for him and wish the best for him.”

Tomic is not expected to be on Hewitt’s Christmas card list any time soon after taking another swipe upon his exit from the TV show on Wednesday night.

He stood by his call that Australia could not break a 15-year drought and win a Davis Cup title without him while also claiming there was corruption in Tennis Australia.

“I don’t care what Lleyton said. I never lost to him,” Tomic, now ranked No.168, told Network Ten’s The Project.

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