‘HE’S DONE NOTHING WRONG’
Having lashed out at Lleyton Hewitt recently, tennis star Bernard Tomic may be considered one of the most controversial sportsmen in Australia, but according to his sister, the public has it all wrong.
Speaking to New Idea, Sara Tomic, also a tennis player, says she’s upset to see the hard times her brother has gone through over the years.
“I know he hasn’t done anything wrong,” she says.
“There are so many times people lie about him and it really upsets me.”
Sara, 20, says Bernard has been wrongly perceived by the Australian public and media.
“A lot of people say things about him and talk badly about him, but people don’t know who he is. He’s often in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she adds.
Bernard made headlines earlier this month when he claimed current players disliked Davis Cup captain Lleyton, and there was a conflict of interest in his team selections.
Lleyton, 37, then went on to allege that Bernard had threatened his family.
“The threats that I’ve received, for me and my family, that I’ve had for a year and a half now, I don’t think anyone would reach out to a person who speaks like that,” he said of Bernard.
But Sara insists her brother is a good man, who is simply misunderstood.
“[Bernard] is a person, a great person behind doors that the public don’t get to see. He’s only 26 and he’s still growing. He has feelings too. A lot of people have taken advantage of him. He means well and he’s very caring. And I love him.”
Growing up, Sara and Bernard were close.
“He’s been such a good brother to me and he’s been such an inspiration to me,” Sara insists. “We’re very close. He’s very protective of me and is someone you can trust.”
In fact, she says her love of tennis started from watching her brother when she was a young girl. He inspired her to take up the game in the hopes of one day joining the top ranks in women’s tennis.
“Serena Williams was and still is my idol,” she adds.
“PEOPLE SAY THINGS AND TALK BADLY ABOUT HIM, BUT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHO HE IS”