HE’S IN A DARK PLACE
As the sports world again pours scorn on Bernard Tomic, a hometown mentor says he holds fears for the Gold Coaster’s welfare
TENNIS Gold Coast’s president and close mate of troubled star Bernard Tomic is worried he is in a “dark, depressive” state and has ordered critics to back off.
The 24-year-old Gold Coaster admitted yesterday he was struggling for motivation and was “bored” on court after a limp first-round Wimbledon exit.
Tomic, a former child prodigy who at 18 became the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Boris Becker in 1986, told a brutally honest post-match press conference: “Playing many years on tour has come and taken a toll. Holding a trophy or doing well, it doesn’t satisfy me any more. I couldn’t care less if I make the fourth round of the US Open or lose first round.
“I know I’m going to play another 10 years and after my career won’t have to work again so for me this is mental.”
The lacklustre performance and comments sparked an avalanche of criticism and calls for him to pay back the $60,000-plus prizemoney but Tennis Gold Coast president Mike Ford said he only felt sympathy.
“The only thing I can come up with is he needs help. These may be depressive type symptoms he is showing,” Mr Ford said.
“I don’t know but obviously he’s not in a good space. I can see there is a problem and I’m sympathetic to it.”
Asked if he was worried about Tomic, Mr Ford said: “Yes I am. He’s obviously going through a very dark period. He needs time and he needs space.”
Mr Ford took a shot at critics and what he saw as double standards with recent treatment of league and AFL stars who’ve battled mental demons and failed to take the field.
“They just give them space, say ‘We are here supporting, going to be there for you’. I don’t hear anyone come out and say they should hand back the money they get.”
Mr Ford, who has known Tomic since he was nine, said he had to give him credit for “telling it how it is” but it also wasn’t doing him any favours being refreshingly honest.
“I heard a commentator say he’s taking up the spot of someone else – no he isn’t. He earned the spot, he’s entitled to the prizemoney.
“Not many realise the work he had to do. He trained at Queens Park in Southport, was there every day with this dad, 11, 12, 13 years old and grinded himself into the court, hour after hour – I don’t forget those sort of things,” Mr Ford said.
Gold Coast coach and Channel 7 commentator Geoff Masters wasn’t quite so charitable saying Tomic needed to look himself in the mirror.
“I don’t agree with his behaviour but clearly he needs some help,” Masters told Sunrise. “Take a break, think about what you are doing, ask are you really proud of the way you are going about your business and hopefully come back wiser and smarter.”
Reflecting on his 6-4 6-3 6-4 loss to 27th seeded German Mischa Zverev – who Tomic slaughtered a week earlier – Tomic said he didn’t respect the sport enough.
“Out there on court, I couldn’t find any motivation.”
Asked if he needed a break, he said: “No, y’know, I’m happy with my life. I was in worse positions than this and managed to turn it around.”
See Tomic’s full press conference at www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au