Weary Tomic ‘ just counts the cash’
UNCERTAINTY over Bernard Tomic’s future has intensified after he followed traumatic Australian Open defeat with vacuous boasts about wealth.
“I just count money, that’s all I do. I count my millions,” Tomic said after tumbling to Melbourne Park defeat against unheralded Italian Lorenzo Sonego. “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 three- setter 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 matchwinning 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.