Bernard Tomic says he was offered millions of dollars to play tennis for other countries and remains amazed he’s done so well at the sport given how little effort he sometimes puts in.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Seven Network’s Sunday Night program, the troubled star was again unapologetic for the way he played tennis and lived his life.
“There’s been big offers to play for different countries. Millions that … people could only imagine,” he said without elaborating on which countries or when the offers were made.
“And, you know, I never did that. I stayed loyal to Australia … at the time I thought about it. The money was insane.”
Tomic, who has slid down the rankings from a high of No.17 to No.69 after a year of lacklustre displays, came under fire most recently at Wimbledon where he lost a first round match in straight sets and admitted to putting in little effort.
Afterward, he described himself as being bored on court and added that critics could only dream of what he had earned by the age of 24.
“Throughout my career, I’ve given 100 per cent,” he told the Seven Network. “I’ve given also 30 per cent. But if you balance it out, I think all my career’s been around 50 per cent and I haven’t really tried, and really achieved all this. So just amazing what I’ve done.”
Tomic defended his father and sometimes coach John, saying the worst he’d done was throw balls at him.
But there were no good words about former Davis Cup captain and two-time US Open winner Pat Rafter.
“Pat’s said a lot of bad things about me, throughout my career, and, you know, he’s always perceived as this nice guy, and this image,” said Tomic.
“People don’t know him in the back of closed doors. He’s not that much of a nice guy … he likes to put on a show.”
He conceded the Davis Cup side was better off without him – at least until he worked out what he really wanted.
Tomic also felt he was “trapped” by the sport because he’d earned a good living from it.
“It’s affected me a little bit mentally and emotionally,” he said.
“So now it’s just about finding my balance and pushing on the next 10 years and being successful even more.”
Johnno
Guest
He hasn't done well at tennis, he's a lost and just a tennis journeyman. No grand slam titles, and just tennis journeyman status, he's just a top 30-50 player, never been top 10, nor top 3 or world no 1, he's just a tennis journey man, big deal... And now he about to be 25. Novak Djokovic had achieved much more at 25 than Tomic. Tomic is never gonna be a Sampras or Nadal or Djokovic, he's not even gonna be Becker or Edberg. And he's no Rafter or Hewitt. All these guys were world no 1 and won grand slam tittles, all Bernard Tomic is going to be able to say is the best i got was being a tennis journeyman, big deal, so you haven't done so well at tennis, stop kidding yourself, your small fry e.g. your just a tennis journeyman which is small fry status..
Craig
Guest
I really don't understand why he says these things. Does he really lack that much self-awareness that he can't see he's being a completely kn0b? "Oh you should respect him for being honest", is the most stupid argument there is. What does he want? A thank you from the Australian people for not going to play for another country? We would thank him if he did. Good riddance you loser.
Winston
Guest
That comment is unfair. The whole point there is, yes we might not like our own jobs, but for so long as we are in it we keep doing it well, and we don't publicly tell everyone "the truth". You're not supposed to tell the truth! It's called being rude and inconsiderate. I dare you to tell your boss the truth.
josh
Roar Rookie
I wonder how many bagging Tomic for telling the truth, haven't themselves thought similarly about their job.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Which country do you think was offering the millions? I doubt Croatian tennis has the money. The obvious candidate would be Great Britain, and they have already done it with Korda. How good would it have been to see them saddled with Tomic having payed millions for him.
bobburra
Guest
Totally agree !!
Craig
Guest
What a grub. Go and play for another country, or don't. Please refund all of the money that Tennis Australia has put in to you. You're a disgrace to Australian tennis and to yourself.
bobburra
Guest
Bernard, go and play for whichever country or corporation which is going to give you extra money, whether you need it or not. The most interesting result would be.. If you really are that good, as you think,you will make your make on the tennis world by your playing results. The odds are that will NOT HAPPEN as you appear to not have the moral fortitude and humility that separate good player from champions. As in all walks of life you have to work hard at what you do to achieve the utmost. You may well finish your career as a very rich man (read money), but you probably would not hold a candle to other GREAT SPORTSPEOPLE, because of the person you are or you project. As for you call on on Pat Rafter, maybe what you say happens behind closed doors does in fact happen, however if Rafter or any other person of note in Tennis Officialdom has to take that type of approach with you then perhaps you should start looking within. You give impression that you are a spoilt brat, so far,nothing you have said or done give rise to the changing of that view in my opinion. I am not a great fan of tennis, but I do know bad manners and bad personality when I see it. Perception is everything, especially in sport,it might pay for you to note that.
delbeato
Roar Guru
I like watching tennis and used to play a bit (not well), but unfortunately my enjoyment of spectating is compromised a bit by knowing that I'm watching some incredibly naturally gifted people do things with a racquet I never could. That's cool but how many times do you want to see Roger Federer be incredibly talented? I'm probably missing the point here!