TOMIC’S WORDS A BIT RICH
UNCERTAINTY over Bernard Tomic’s future has intensified after he followed a traumatic Australian Open qualifying defeat with vacuous boasts about wealth.
“I just count money, that’s all I do. I count my millions,” Tomic said after tumbling to defeat against unheralded Italian Lorenzo Sonego yesterday.
“You go do what I did. You go make $13-14 million. Good luck guys.”
Ranked 218th in the world, Sonego inflicted Tomic’s latest tennis ignominy with a 6-1, 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 third-round victory.
Sonego will now contest the first grand slam main draw match of his career, leaving Tomic to contemplate the remnants of a once assured future.
Tomic’s comments about money are an echo of his provocative post-Wimbledon gloating last year, when he said: “You probably don’t like me but, at only 24, you guys can only dream about having what I have.
“End of the day, don’t like me or whatever. Just go back dreaming about your dream car or house while I go buy them.”
For the third qualifying match in a row, Tomic did not accept interview requests.
Winless at grand slam level since last year’s Australian Open, Tomic picked up $30,000 for the Sonego loss.
But his lack of fitness was again a factor against an opponent the former world No.17 was heavily favoured to handle.
A weary Tomic conceded the first set in 19 minutes as the fatigue from a sapping threesetter against Tommy Paul in the previous round set in.
He regrouped to clinch a tight second bracket and almost secured what might have been a match-winning service break in the ninth game of the deciding set.
Sonego’s monster forehand saved him before, in the following game, Tomic cracked under pressure.
He had a brief exchange with US umpire Jake Garner post-match before sauntering back to the locker-room.
The 25-year-old is now doomed to a rankings fall to about No.170 in the world.
Tomic was overlooked for a wildcard invitation to play the Open after turning down an invitation to take part in a training camp.
John-Patrick Smith, Bradley Mousley and Patricia Hon all bowed out in the last round of qualifying.