Tomic sabotaging Australian tennis – chief
Bernard Tomic is deliberately trying to sabotage Australia’s tennis culture, Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley says.
And Tiley says Tomic will remain an outcast in Davis Cup and the wider Australian tennis community.
A week after expressing hope that Tomic and Australia’s cup captain Lleyton Hewitt could mend their fractured relationship, Tiley has savaged Tomic.
‘‘Lleyton is right to say Bernard will not be considered for Davis Cup,’’ Tiley said yesterday. ‘‘Bernard does not meet the standards of behaviour and commitment to himself, the team or the sport.
‘‘Now, he is deliberately trying to damage that culture, and not for the first time.’’
Hewitt said during the recent Australian Open that Tomic wouldn’t be considered for Davis Cup selection during his tenure as captain.
His comments came after Tomic, after his first-round loss in Melbourne, bitterly criticised Hewitt, saying no-one liked the Australian captain and accusing him of favouring certain players.
Hewitt in turn claimed Tomic had threatened his family.
Last week, Tomic’s father, John, said Hewitt left his son traumatised in 2010 by pressuring him into revealing who in Tennis Australia was ‘‘against’’ him – but Tiley yesterday rubbished those claims.
‘‘In regards to . . . an alleged incident in 2010, we are not aware of any formal complaint lodged by either John or Bernard,’’ Tiley said. ‘‘Both Bernard and John have enjoyed a lot of support since in many areas of their lives, including a long and sustained period of personal commitment and wholehearted effort from Lleyton Hewitt as Davis Cup captain.
‘‘Our organisation remains deeply disappointed with the ongoing disrespect from Bernard and his father.
‘‘We have given more than a decade of support. Ultimately, we have to draw a line when the behaviour does not warrant the support.’’