News Limited sports journalist, Mark Stevens, titled his story on Andre Agassi’s 2003 Australian Open victory, ‘From Punk to Prince’.
Could Bernard Tomic’s straight sets, 6-4 6-4 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic at last night’s Hopman Cup, be titled the same?
Stevens was referring to Agassi’s transformation from brash young player, more concerned with his image and celebrity status than his tennis future, to a well-respected crowd favourite who had finally fulfilled his youthful promise.
Agassi even had gone as far to film a TV commercial in the late 80s uttering the words “image is everything”.
Although Agassi later said that he sorely regretted that part of his youth, at the time came it hurt him badly when he was troubled by injury and subsequently fell from favour with even the most patriotic American fans.
At times, his tennis future looked shaky. Agassi earned the punk title when playing Jimmy Connors at the US Open, in all his brashness in 1988, with one member of the crowd yelling out “don’t worry Jimmy, he is a punk, you are a legend”.
The similarities have not been lost on Bernard Tomic in the last twelve months.
He teased the world with promise of great things to come when pushing Djokovic all the way in their 2011 Wimbledon quarter final.
Since then, the wheels have fallen off both on and off the court. Tomic spent just as much time in court as on it as he seemed to get addicted to the image drug, with this love of fast cars and celebrity life.
One thing has been very clear since the beginning of this year’s Hopman Cup: Tomic must have had some serious PR training since the latter part of 2012.
The manner in which he is conducting himself with the media and the public is a far cry from his childish spat with a journalist at the US Open press conference after being accused of tanking.
While Djokovic might like to deflect the Hopman Cup loss as being merely an ‘exhibition’ match, I am sure those in the Tomic camp are taking the win taking it as the prize scalp it is.
Whether this is one day out for Tomic in the blistering Perth sunshine or the start of the royal transformation to regal status, only time will tell.
That is what makes the future, and the coming Australian Open, even more intriguing.
tommy
Guest
check out his post match interview after Roddick game at US Open last year. It goes down hill from 4:30. Disgraceful. Pat Rafter has a lot of work to do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tug6XxzgK0Q I won't be cheering for him. Instead I'll be going for champion blokes with heaps of heart & some brains like John Millman.
neily_b
Roar Rookie
I was excited when Tomic came onto the scene as Australia were in need of a new star and he looked the goods after his junior form. In saying that, I haven't been a huge fan of Tomic up to this point but I still want to hold off my judgment until the end of this year. Seeing how he bounces back from last year's efforts and whether he can find that form and keep it going for 12 months will be the real test. If he can manage this then he might change my opinion of him.
Jocelyn McLennan
Roar Guru
Touche Glen. Hence why my article said the proof will be in the coming weeks and year, especially when he faces hostile crowds in the US if he is player an American like in New York. Personally I think Tomic, more than many others, has the game to bother Djokovich as he does not try to out hit him with power. Tomc will struggle against Federer as the games are similar with a lot of variety it is just that Federer just does it better and more consistant. Djkovich/Tomic will always be a good match up of styles.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Over it's 25-year history, the Hopman Cup has had a litany of high profile players looking very ordinary and then looking world beaters in Melbourne at the Australian Open. Until Tomic faces some top-10 talent at Melbourne Park I wouldn't be getting too excited. The test will be when he comes up against the likes of Djokoic, Murray or Federer in Melbourne. Until then, I will reserve judgement on just how far Tomic has come.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
One win does't turn a punk into a prince, but it has the potential to turn Tomic's career upside down. Some good form heading into the Australian open (y)
polly
Guest
I don't know but I'd like to ask Pat Rafter, surely a prince & qualified to judge.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Tend to agree with the general consensus that "one swallow does not a Summer make". As good as it is to see Tomic the tennis player make strides he has a lot of work ahead of him to convince people the values of Tomic the person. I hope he does so, for his sake more than anything else.
Steele
Guest
Future top ten player with the potential to win majors, but still a Pratt! I liked his response to his win" full credit to myself" I couldn't be more happy with myself? Hopefully that was just a lost in translation thing, because Aussies don't like supporting big heads, just ask James " the missile" Magnussen. Many people I spoke to around Olympics time were actually rooting against him, such was his arrogance.
Alexander Grant
Roar Pro
Fair point, but I stand by what I said. Great win for Tomic, and one bout of good relations with the media doesn't make up for his pitful behaviour to this point. Consistency is the key for well beyond January and for the rest of his career - both in hiss game and handling the media.
Brewski
Guest
This is a story that has been passed to me second hand, so i can't vouch for it, but a person i know was in a Gold Coast hospital (couple of years ago) and commented to a nurse that he was interested in tennis, turns out the nurse was Tomics mum and in the next few days bought in snippetts of info and spoke glowingly of her son, which is what parents do. During the course of their conversations turns out she worked many extra shifts to pay for his travel/tuition/schooling etc so therefore IMO with that sort of background of family support and hard work ethic I would expect the kid to turn out all right. He would not be the first kid to be a smartarse and get ahead of himself, he has obviously been sheltered form the real world to a degree and wrapped up in his sport.
Johnno
Guest
Novak is rusty he is still battling jet lag. He flew from Qatar 2 days ago had to play the 1st day, and now, so he is tired.
Brewski
Guest
Novak looked a bit rusty, Tomic appears to be a 2 paced player, rather than just hitting the ball very hard all the time, which IMO is a good thing, looks to have all the shots and usually keeps the ball deep which is a must to be a top ten player. Has a good slice, and top spin backhand, forehand still quite flat, so needs to be in good form to use it as the margin for error is small, i would expect Novak to take him apart come majors time though. At least last night he did not try to many stupid drop shots.
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
Djokovic isn't at his peak form yet, but that doesn't change the fact that he was outplayed by Tomic. It was a very good win for him.
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
Good article, Jocelyn. Tomic certainly looks to have sharpened his game on and off the court. He's saying all the right things to the media and his performance against Djokovic last night was excellent. Credit to Pat Rafter for giving him a wake-up call he needed. I wouldn't get too carried away with his game just yet though, his real test this year will be how he responds when down in a match and without home crowd support. He'll be keen to exorcise the demons from New York and the Davis Cup tie with Germany.
Alexander Grant
Roar Pro
It's the Hopman Cup. That means ZERO ranking points being put at risk. I'd like to see Tomic repeat this against Djokovic when the Serb has all his endorsements, more prizemoney and his ranking on the line.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Need more than a win to change my opinion about the guy. Not saying I will always consider him a prat but he would have to change dramatically and I don't honk he wants that tbh. He is earning good money, has a bunch of followers who pat him on the back no matter what so I guess he has the choice to stay true to himself and keep behaving the way he does. He is young though and there is still hope he will one day realise there is more in life than acting like you're 'the man' to boost your ego.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Dead rubber? It was the first game of the tie! Obviously you didn't watch it or even know about it until very recently...
Red Block
Guest
It should be remembered, Serbia was leading 2-0, so it was a dead rubber. Djokovic bought his C game. A blip on the radar but the media will do their best to build Tomic up before Melbourne. No Aussies into the second week, I'll wager.
The no. Three
Guest
I reckon that Click are all up in arms about Tomic winning, and how, against the best. I might go sell some more Bonds undies now.
striker
Guest
The Gaffer his only 19 and has alot of maturing to do, give him a break and judge in ten years time not at 19, there is no doubting his talent he destroyed Novak last night and this was no fluke as some people might say he was all class.