Australian Davis Cup Coach Joshua Eagles ‘thinks’ Bernard Tomic will probably play at the French Open next week. Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde ‘think’ Tomic will play at Roland Garros – clearly everyone is very worried he won’t.
However, isn’t the real question: why on earth wouldn’t he?
It has been well publicised in recent weeks Bernard’s volatile father has got himself into a spot of bother with the Spanish judicial system.
He is accused of head-butting Bernard’s training partner (not sparring partner, they weren’t in the gym) Thomas Drouet before the lucrative Madrid Open roughly a fortnight ago.
Immediately after this regrettable incident, Bernard suffered a first round loss at Madrid and subsequently withdrew from the follow up event in Rome.
First round losses far from home aren’t that rare for professional tennis players. Ask anyone who follows the tour, all the best players have had their share of painful first round losses – it’s part of the learning curve. Unless it starts happening regularly, it’s not that big a deal.
What I don’t understand is this: Bernard is not the accused in this situation.
Bernard did not force his father to hit his training partner, to suggest this would clearly be absurd.
John Tomic has accumulated a chequered, well documented, history of colourful behaviour at his son’s tennis matches. This is no secret to Australian journalists and people who follow tennis closely in this country. A little online research will quickly confirm this.
So why is there this conjecture Bernard might not play at one of the four most prestigious, important and lucrative tournaments on the calender? Why is Bernard apparently on the verge of derailing his career and prospects for the season?
Could it be this is what John Tomic wants for his hugely talented 20 year old son? Surely not.
You don’t really have to be reading between the lines to come to the conclusion that Tomic senior’s antics are the real issue here and surely any father that genuinely cares about their son’s career wouldn’t want his own (alleged) lack of clear judgement to get in the way of his son’s success.
If I could speak directly to Bernard Tomic I would say this: You are not your father. None of us are our fathers. This is your career, your talent, your opportunity.
There are so many Australian men who would give their left nut to be skilled enough to play a professional sport at the level you do.
Go to Roland Garros, hold your head high and give a good account of yourself on the court.
By doing these things you will earn a great many people’s admiration and respect – especially your fans here at home.
You may not have had a satisfactory preparation for this event, but the French crowd adores a brave underdog, they love a fighter and there’s very little pressure/expectation of you to have a blinder.
In short, have a crack mate – that’s the Aussie way.
Remember fortune often does favour the brave, and remember: I actually would give my left nut to be in your shoes, regardless of what silly thing a Dad may, or may not, have done.
David Lord
Expert
Nick you are quite right, Tomic is a Richard cranium, and always will be. He doesn't give a rats about behaving, a chip off his father's block. Tomic has had genuine advice from the good guys of Australian tennis like Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, Tony Roche, and Todd Woodbridge, and he still doesn't give a rats. Bernard Tomic is a waste of space, and doesn't deserve all the excuses being trotted out for him. He knows the right things to do, but keeps going on his road to stupidity. Forget him.
matt
Guest
Goodbye Bernard, there's a new child prodigy who also happens to be a good kid. Hello Nick Kyrgios!
matt
Guest
Brilliantly put Nick, could not agree more
Sunshine
Guest
I think people are just getting a small inkling of the pressure Bernard has been playing under for many years. Yes, his father has done an amazing job of getting him to the place he is at at the age of 20. But there are clearly pressures involved through the intrinsic relationship of father and son, that are possibly not always healthy. Is John Tomic truly there for the benefit of Bernard? Or has his ego become too entwined in his son's career to know when it is time to let go? As a parent of a child training at an elite level, I know there is a time to step back and let the trainers do their job, let the talent be exposed and freed. That is when remarkable things can happen. I feel terribly sorry for Bernard, caught between the father he has loved and respected, and the reality of the time come to let go of that.
Nick
Guest
As infuriating as this may no doubt be to Tomic fans, I stand emphatically by what I wrote earlier. The cult of the athlete is Australia is such that any prat behaviour is put down to youth, fame, being in a bubble, bad parenting, the media, excuses, excuses... instead of it perhaps being the individual's problem. Yes I like watching sportsmen do well. But young guys like Pat Rafter still exist right now and I choose to support them over the guys who obviously can't handle their egos and who hide from cops, dis Hewitt, threaten to go play for the Czechs instead (yes it was dad but he never disowned poppa's statement), tanking accusations...In December 2012 it was announced by Tennis Australia that Tomic would not be selected for Australia's first Davis Cup tie in early 2013 and they would cut his funding "amid growing exasperation over the 20-year-old's effort, attitude and commitment, if not his wayward off-court behaviour "... You guys are way out of touch if you think that's average behaviour. He's not an average 21 year old. But seriously, I'll be happy to support him if and when he stops being a d*ckhead
clipper
Guest
It seems to me that our Tennis and Golf players have to adhere to higher standards than the footy players, although that's not a bad call if it keeps them straying too much - the parents on the other hand seem to be more feral that those from other sports - it must be a distraction.
Joel Tiller
Roar Rookie
Matt H you've nailed it right there. Nick - can't you remember when you were 20 yrs old? Did you not make any stupid, embarrassing decisions back then?
matt h
Guest
I'm sorry Nick but you might be confusing him with his father a little bit. Bernard appears to act like your average 21 year old, high on invicibility, life and hormones. He hadn;t had too many setbacks until he had to play withy the big boys and it has taken him a while to learn how to deal with not winning all the time. Nothing there requiring abuse from the public. He doesn't take drugs, hit girls or expose himself in public like our 20-something footy players, His father on the other hand ...
Nick
Guest
If he plays, I literally hope the Turkey loses first round. Patriotism is simply not enough of a motivator to support this nuts*ck of a human being.
Johnno
Guest
Berny's young, he wants fast car's and chasing pretty girl's and to live it up, he'll come good and win eventually just let him take his time and live life in the fast lane, then he will eventually win.
matt
Guest
Berny will be top 10 by the end of the year. Well, that's what he told us all back in Jan. In fact reflecting on this, "Jan" could make a good nick name for Berny, because he plays well in Jan, then plays like a girl for the rest of the year.