Newk’s Tomic solution
Aussie great urges Bernard’s father to intervene
JOHN Newcombe believes John Tomic is one of the few people capable of saving Bernard Tomic’s floundering career.
Grand slam great Newcombe forecast a grim future for the struggling former world No. 17, nominating Tomic Sr as a possible saviour.
One of the most controversial figure in international tennis, John has not been working with his son as he concentrates on his daughter Sara’s fledgling career.
John is believed to be shattered by Bernard’s disinterested showing at Wimbledon on Monday.
Bernard achieved his best results under John’s iron rule and Newcombe says a reunion between the pair could be Bernard’s salvation.
“I don’t know it personally, but I understand he’s not having a lot to do with his father (John) now,” Newcombe said.
“It’s been a very authoritarian rule and maybe his father has to come back into the pic- ture. “Maybe he’ll (Bernard) respond to that.
“It’s always a great shame when you see a talented young athlete destroying themselves.
“But it’s his life. He makes his choices.”
Newcombe said Tomic erred by excluding himself from Davis Cup this season.
“I’ve always found Bernie a nice, young bloke,” Newcombe said.
“(But) he’s his own worst enemy. He’s played some great Davis Cup matches for Australia. “He elected not to play this year, so I think that was probably not good for him.
“Around the team atmosphere probably would have been good for him.
“Unless he gets help and helps himself, nothing good is going to happen in the next 12 months.”
Under his father’s direction, Bernard reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals as the youngest man to do that since Boris Becker in 1985.
John was still involved last year when Bernard achieved a career-high ranking.
Wimbledon officials are yet to decide if Tomic will be pun- ished for faking injury during an insipid first-round loss.
Grand slam supervisors are continuing to assess Tomic’s confession that he called for a medical time-out when he didn’t need treatment.
It is possible he could be charged — and fined — with bringing tennis into disrepute.
The probe continues as Newcombe claimed Tomic will hit rock bottom unless he seeks immediate help.
The former world No. 1 is disturbed by Tomic’s mental state after the Queenslander admitted he was bored playing at Wimbledon.
Newcombe, who mastered the art of sporting psychology to win seven grand slam singles crowns, has urged Tomic to address his issues as soon as he can.