‘Bored’ Tomic’s words draw $15K fine and racquet sponsor loss
>> LONDON: Bernard Tomic was fined US$15,000 at Wimbledon and dropped by his racquet sponsor Thursday — not for something he did during his first-round loss, but for what he said during a news conference afterward.
The penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct was announced two days after the 24-year-old Australian was beaten by Mischa Zverev 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, then spoke to the media about feeling “a little bit bored out there.’’
Tomic also said on Tuesday that he “just couldn’t find any motivation’’ to compete this year and acknowledged that when he called for a medical timeout against Zverev, he did so not because of an injury issue but to “try to break a bit of momentum.’’
Racquet maker Head issued a statement via its Twitter feed on Thursday saying: “We were extremely disappointed with the statements made at Wimbledon by one of our sponsored athletes, Bernard Tomic. His opinions in no way reflect our own attitude for tennis, our passion, professionalism and respect for the game.’’
The statement concluded: “Therefore, we have decided to discontinue our collaboration with Bernard Tomic.’’
The fine amounts to more than a third of Tomic’s prize money: Firstround losers at the All England Club this year earn £35,000 (about $45,000).
Tomic has not reached the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam tournament since losing at that stage at Wimbledon against eventual champion Novak Djokovic in 2011. That year, at age 18, Tomic became the youngest man to reach the quarterfinals at the All England Club since 1986, when Boris Becker won the title.
Djokovic, a 12-time major champion also sponsored by Head, was asked about the company’s decision to cut ties with Tomic because of his comments.
“We all, in the heat of the moment, maybe say some things that are not appropriate maybe, by definition of someone or something,’’ Djokovic said. “But it’s understandable, in a way, why Head has reacted in this way. Because it’s not the right message to send out there from one of the most talented players that has played the game in the last six, seven years, and someone that was a hero to — he is a hero to — many children, especially in Australia.’’
Tomic reached a high of No.17 in the ATP rankings in 2016; he entered Wimbledon at No.59.
“I feel holding a trophy or, you know, doing well — it doesn’t satisfy me anymore,’’ Tomic said on Tuesday. “It’s not there. I couldn’t care less if I make a fourth round [at the] US Open or I lose [in the] first round. To me, everything is the same. I’m going to play another 10 years, and I know after my career I won’t have to work again.’’