Adrift with no sense of purpose
AS Bernard Tomic decamps from the plush Chelsea Harbour Hotel, there’s one final message.
“Let’s chat again when I’m playing good tennis, maybe in the US,” the Gold Coaster said.
His voice trails off as he heads to London’s Heathrow airport to escape the media glare at Wimbledon: “I’ve just got to figure out what I want.”
Tomic is in Florida, taking a five-day break, as the sports community rakes over an outrageously supine firstround display at Wimbledon.
It got even worse for Tomic last night when he was fined almost $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after admitting he faked injury in the defeat by Mischa Zverev.
However, Tomic said he would appeal, claiming the fine was not for faking injury but for telling journalists he was bored at the home of tennis.
Tomic’s post-match confession, in which he also said he didn’t care whether he won or lost and was undermotivated, received stinging criticism. But Tomic was unfazed by the comments.
“I understand people have got their opinion but all I did at Wimbledon was give my honest opinion,” he said.
“A lot of people have misunderstood what I was saying in terms of trying. The truth is he (Zverev) was playing great. There were short points from both sides. One or two-shot rallies and that’s why it looked bad. If I’d been winning them, people would say I played great.”
Armchair psychologists routinely describe Tomic as “damaged goods”, witless and lacking self-awareness.
There are other theories that Tomic – whose upbringing is described by Pat Cash as unusual – is buried under so many layers of emotional scar tissue that he is incapable of being hurt any more.
“I take criticism on board, but it doesn’t really affect me,” he said.
“I had so much success at a young age and that’s now taking its toll in motivation.
“I’m 24 and it feels like I’m very old, but I’m still young.
“I don’t really look at what people say or write.”
With three titles, doublehip surgery and a career-high ranking of No.17, Tomic continues to search for balance and validation. “When I look back on that match, I know I was just going through the motions,” he said.
“That’s no good. You need to want to be out there and to work hard.
“I know I need to work harder and that if I do, I can be in the top 15 or higher. But if I don’t do the work, I can be ranked around 60 or 70 and that’s OK. I’m trying to find that balance of what I want.”
Tomic, ranked No.69, has no intention of taking a spell from tennis. Truth is, he knows nothing else.
“It’s been like this for a while,” he says. “I go on court and, for me, winning and losing is the same thing. It makes no difference.
“I was angry with myself and frustrated against Zverev because I knew I was just going through the motions.
“At the same time, I felt like I tried as much as I could but, mentally, I wasn’t there.”
Having opted out of Davis Cup this season, a decision that cost him Lleyton Hewitt’s counsel and support Tomic, is lost. And he has neither map nor compass.
“I’m going to keep playing and hopefully I’ll find the spark to get me going,” he said. “I’ve got Atlanta and Washington coming up and hopefully that will be better.”
WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THAT MATCH, I KNOW I WAS JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. THAT’S NO GOOD. BERNARD TOMIC
WIMBLEDON champions Boris Becker and Pat Cash have lashed Bernard Tomic’s attitude, questioning why the Gold Coaster is even playing.
The former rivals joined forces to claim Tomic had cheated by feigning injury simply to slow opponent Mischa Zverev’s advance.
Becker, who won three Wimbledon crowns, was aghast at Tomic’s admission he was bored, under-motivated and could not care if he won or loss at the home of tennis.
“I can’t believe it. I mean there are 1000 players, dreaming to play the first round of Wimbledon,” the German said on Fox Sports.
“They go through the countryside, play the Challengers, go through qualifying and here’s a very talented player who’s throwing it all away. I don’t get it.”
Cash described Tomic’s actions in calling for medical staff when there was nothing wrong as “blatant cheating”.
“I saw the medical people out there and he admitted he faked an injury,” he said.
“What do you do? You call a medical time-out and they ask you ‘What’s wrong with you’ and you say ‘Well, nothing really. I just wanted time off.’
“I mean, that’s blatant cheating, first of all.”
Cash thinks Tomic might escape sanction despite confessing he faked injury. But Becker said: “I’m not so sure because in the press conference he admitted that he didn’t really have an injury.”
Cash countered by pointing to the number of players who use breaks to disrupt rivals.
Becker replied: “But nobody goes to the press conference after and says, ‘I faked an injury.’ It’s really another level.”
Cash urged Tomic, 24, to take time off, describing the right-hander’s dispirited display as disgusting.
“It is sad. It’s quite concerning, I think,” Cash said.
“But he’s got such an unusual background, the history. But if he’s lost motivation, just take some time off.
“I don’t mind. I don’t think anybody’s going to hold it against him.
“Ex-Australian tennis players are embarrassed.
“We’re embarrassed to have his name next to that.
“That’s disgusting stuff. Just stop.”