Troubled Tomic must accept helping hand to climb out of rut

THE last time Bernard Tomic — current whereabouts unknown — left the Australian Open in such ignominy, he headed straight to the operating theatre for double hip surgery.

That was four years ago, a seeming lifetime.

He returned to claim a top-20 ranking, a significant and deserved achievement.

When Tomic exited Mel- bourne Park on Sunday, perhaps never to be seen again in grand slam battle, he headed into the unknown.

Whether he appears next on Network Ten’s “I’m A Celebrity ... get me outta here!” is academic. In fact, utterly meaningless.

What matters most is how Tomic can be saved from himself.

Now estranged from Lleyton Hewitt — once his staunchest ally outside of the Tomic household — and key members of the Australian Davis Cup family, Tomic has never been more isolated. That is all his own making. As of yesterday, the first day of an Australian Open main draw he should have been contesting, Tomic is not entered for any ATP Tour level events for the next six weeks.

His name also does not appear on the secondary Challenger level, either.

Tomic, at just 25, has effec- tively vanished, hardly surprising given escapism has become his calling card over the past 18 months.

Rarely inclined to practice court toil, Tomic’s lack of conditioning during cut-throat qualifying rounds became clearer with each match.

In his prime, the former world No.17 would have wiped the court with the admirable Lorenzo Sonego, ranked No.218.

Talent propelled Tomic into the top 20; laziness, coupled with burnout, torpedoed what he had established.

Now, without structure, without meaningful allies, the Queenslander is in the wilderness.

There are plenty of people willing to help but there are only so many times they are prepared to be snubbed.

Tomic needs help in a hurry — regardless of whether he reappears on a tennis court any time soon.