Bernard Tomic: Are you serious about attacking the top 10?
Bernard Tomic had recently pretty much disappeared from the scene. In an interview, he has now shown remorse about his younger self - and stated that he dares to make a comeback to the top of the world.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Dec 14, 2021, 12:27 pm
In terms of sport, there was little to report from Bernard Tomic in recent years. In 2016 he achieved his previous best performance with 17th place in the ATP ranking, currently he is only listed in 259th place. In 2021 he was mainly on the Challenger level or in qualifying rounds at ATP tournaments, most recently there were five defeats here. Quo vadis, Bernie?
In a conversation with the Gold Coast Bulletin , Tomic said he was stuck in Europe from July to September - there were no flights to Australia, a charter flight organized by Tennis Australia then brought him (and Nick Kyrgios) home. "It cost a fortune," said Tomic.
But what about in general - does he feel like attacking again? He still has a few years left, "So I should attack again, turn everything around, do the right things and then step back happily," said the 29-year-old.
Bernard Tomic: "I'm a little older. A little wiser"
Tomic has repeatedly caused scandals - with statements after defeats such as "I'm going home now and counting my millions". Tomic regrets that, "that's something a child would say," he reflects today. "I'm a little older. A little wiser."
He also stated that he had problems with the loneliness on the tour, with all the traveling. "I was in the top 50 when I was 18 years old. But traveling broke me." It's especially difficult as an Australian. The players from Europe only have to go to Australia once a year; as a ten-year-old, he had to constantly fly back and forth between the USA, Europe and Australia.
Will Tomic play the Australian Open?
Tomic also dares to access the top again. His goal is to get into the top 10. When he was number 17, only a few points were missing to 12th place. "And that was only possible with 60 percent effort," says Tomic. "I think I can get into the top 10. One of my goals is to quit the right way. I expect that to be possible in two to three years."
The next attempt for Tomic: probably the qualification for the Australian Open. It was last played in Doha, where Tomic qualified for the main draw. "I played my best tennis in qualifications," he says. He would no longer travel to Doha, the qualification is currently planned to take place again in Melbourne. Most recently Tomic had injured his finger, in the next few weeks he will hit more balls, we will see. "I still have four and a half weeks," he says, "I'll do my best."