Tomic’s dad eyes return

JOHN Tomic says his underfire tennis star son Bernard has asked him to become his coach again — and he’s considering it.

Mr Tomic has been focusing on coaching daughter Sara while her older brother has slid from a career-high ranking of 17 to now 59 in the world and is expected to fall further.

Mr Tomic said yesterday his son, a one-time 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finalist aged 18 had broached the subject of coaching with him.

“Bernard asked. We’ve talked about it and we will see. “I am considering it. “I’m busy with my schedule now with Sara, my daughter, who is working hard, but maybe after the US Open I will go over.”

Tomic Jr does not currently have a coach.

Mr Tomic, 52, who said he spoke to his son early yesterday said they enjoyed a “good” relationship these days.

“He’s my son. I love him. There’s no questioning that and we are OK,” he said.

“He’s on the tour. I’m at home, but you know, we don’t

JOHN TOMIC ON COACHING HIS SON

have a problem now. I talked to him this morning. He’s OK. What I can say is that everyone is right not supporting him not working hard.

“This is not the Australian way, which he knows.”

Tomic Jr, 24, was roundly criticised following a firstround Wimbledon defeat last week, admitting he was bored at times in the match and struggling to find motivation.

He was fined almost $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and lost sponsorship from racquet maker Head.

Nike is sticking with him, saying he “remains a Nike athlete”.

“Look, Bernard needs help,” Mr Tomic said. “He didn’t have any belief. When your style of play is like that, that starts to escalate.”

Mr Tomic said he was grateful for the support Aussie luminaries Lleyton Hewitt and John Newcombe had shown his son, who has earned almost $7 million in prizemoney.

“John Newcombe and Lleyton Hewitt are two legends who support Bernard. Newcombe tried to find a solution to help Bernard, and Lleyton also, but others are like sharks.

“I’m not supporting not working hard, but there are lots of haters and sharks, legends of tennis, who want to destroy Bernard.”

Mr Tomic said his son, who has decided not to return to the Davis Cup this year, had not put in hard work the past two or three years.

“Maybe he (doesn’t) like my criticism but anyway, what can I do?” he said. “I support hard work and discipline.

“He has let the team down.” He had no doubt his son could return to form.

“Tennis will survive. Bernard will survive. He will come back,” he said.

Channel 10’s Waleed Aly defended Tomic Jr , saying he was allowed to be bored: “Not a breach of the rules. I barrack for a football team that didn’t turn up last night.”

I AM CONSIDERING I’M BUSY WITH MY SCHEDULE WITH SARA, WHO IS WORKING HARD, BUT MAYBE AFTER THE US OPEN I WILL GO OVER.