Australian tennis great John Newcombe is hoping enigmatic youngster Bernard Tomic doesn’t end his career wondering what might have been.
Newcombe on Monday citing the examples of Mark Philippoussis and axed Wallabies rugby star James O’Connor in a warning to Tomic.
Branded as a future star of the sport after claiming two junior grand slam crowns, 21-year-old Tomic has slipped outside the world’s top 50 and boasts just the one ATP title after three full years on tour.
It’s a record that has drawn early comparison with Philippoussis, who endured a roller-coaster and largely unfulfilled career.
Philippousis reached a career-high ranking of No.8 and two grand slam finals but failed to land a major as his Davis Cup teammates Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt each won two and scaled the sport’s summit.
Newcombe didn’t criticise Philippoussis’ achievements but rued lost opportunity.
“I always like to say to young guys: `Think you are now 35 years of age, are you going to look back and say `I could have done this, I could have done that?’” he said.
“Or are you going to go out and give it your best shot and get the maximum out of your talent?
“When Mark was super fit and concentrating one hundred per cent on his tennis, he was reaching Wimbledon finals, US Open finals … when he didn’t do his training, he dropped right off.
“You see it in all sports: James O’Connor in rugby, who’s let his career go. It’s crazy.”
Drawn to Tomic’s recent efforts at Gold Coast’s Sin City nightclub, where he was pictured shirtless, Newcombe said there was a time and a place and noted it was Tomic’s off-season.
“You can hit nightclubs, it depends when you hit them,” he said.
“If you’re in off-season, you’re going out it’s fine – (but not) if you’re in the middle of a tournament or when you should be training hard.”
With his father serving a suspension from the ATP Tour, Tomic will play under Croatian coach Velimir Zovko in 2014 and Newcombe was positive he could improve next year.
“In the end, it’s going to come down to Bernie,” Newcombe said.
“What he decides he wants to be in his own mind.”
Jorji Costava - The Guru's Guru
Guest
Seen Tomic play a number of times. He is one of those journeymen top 50 style players. He will never be a top 10. Not enough power in his game, he is slow across the court and his skills are about the same as most at his level. One day he might get to a slam semi if cards fall his way. But I cannot see he has the game to make a final. The cupboard is pretty bare for Aussie tennis, that is why this Tomic character gets the amount of media interest he does. We do have some outstanding golfers that are top ten material. Forget the tennis guys, concentrate on the golf.
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
I really hope Tomic finally knuckles down and realises that he isn't going to be the best without hard work. If he does do what Newcombe has said he could be as good as anyone out there when he's on.