Tomic dumped from Davis Cup squad after rant

SYDNEY: Tennis Australia have reacted to Bernard Tomic’s extraordinary tirade at the organisation by dumping him from this month’s Davis Cup home quarter-final against Kazakhstan, according to media reports.

Tomic was knocked out of Wimbledon by defending champion Novak Djokovic on Friday but most of his post-match news conference was consumed by a lengthy rant which accused Tennis Australia of penny-pinching and claimed he had been charged for practising on their courts.

The 22-year-old also insulted former Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter, one of the country’s sports icons.

“Pat is a nice guy. If the Australian public don’t know Pat, he’s a good actor, he’s well-spoken, always prepared and knows what to say,” Tomic said at the media conference.

“He’s prepped by Tennis Australia to know what to say.”

Reports said yesterday that Tomic was called into a meeting with Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley and president Stephen Healy at Wimbledon on Saturday.

During that meeting Tomic was informed of his punishment for what Tennis Australia described as “disparaging and disrespectful comments”.

“His behaviour was unacceptable,” Healy told reporters after the meeting, Fairfax Media and other Australian outlets said.

“Playing for our country is an absolute privilege, and with that privilege comes an obligation to behave appropriately. He didn’t.

“The allegations are misinformed and untrue and he publicly derided some outstanding people.

“We are trying to build a strong culture underpinned by a philosophy of opportunity, not entitlement. This behaviour is just not on.”

Tomic also complained about a lack of financial support from Tennis Australia, but his latest antics may have cost him any chance of future funding.

“He’s enjoyed great support from the organisation from the age of 11-12,“Tiley told reporters.

“The organisation, through our support and funding, really helped him get to where he is today.

“He himself has got himself there but we, as an organisation, have been a really key partner in all of that.

“It’s a simple decision off the back of the comments Bernie made last night... It will really be up to Bernard.

“If he chooses one path that is destructive, that’ll be unfortunate and it’s not going to benefit him. If he chooses another path of taking it on the chin and accept what he’s done is in error and not acceptable, we can move on.”

Australia play Kazakhstan in Darwin beginning on July 17. — AFP