Tomic tackles Aussie Open qualifying after wildcard snub
MELBOURNE: Troubled Bernard Tomic, who was denied a wildcard to next week’s Australian Open, says he didn’t need the help anyway and will tackle qualifying to make the main draw of his home Grand Slam.
Once a rising star, the 25-yearold’s ranking has plunged to 142 in the world after a car- crash 2017 season in which he admitted he was “bored” and not always giving 100 per cent.
He missed out on an Australian Open wi ldcard from Tennis Australia after failing to front up for the December playoff and also ignoring an invitation to a training camp run by Lleyton Hewitt, his former mentor.
He must now win three suddendeath qualifying matches this week to secure his Open entry for a 10th straight year.
“I’m not going to say anything (about not getting a wildcard),” he told reporters after his first appearance of the year at the Kooyong Classic exhibition, where he lost to Japan’s world number 169 Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets.
“It ’ s thei r view and I’ve never needed the help of Tennis Australia to achieve what I’ve achieved in my career.
“For me, i t ’ s not a bi g problem.”
Tomic has long had a fractious relat ionship with Tenni s Australia. Last year he admitted he had no love for the game, saying it is just a job and he felt “trapped”.
Australian Open director Craig Tiley in November offered him “health and wellbeing” support to try and get his career back on track. — AFP