Bernard Tomic has resisted taking a potshot at Tennis Australia after he was left out of the list of qualifier wildcards for the Australian Open, vowing to return to the top 100 without the governing body’s support.
For the first time in 15 years, since he made his Australian Open debut as a 16-year-old in 2008, Tomic will not be a fixture at Melbourne Park after he was left out of the list of qualifying wildcards released on Friday.
The world No.462 told First Serve that he is not bitter with Tennis Australia, but will use the decision as motivation to prove his doubters wrong.
“I’m not expecting any favours. I’m going to prove my point and earn my way,” Tomic said on his way to Doha.
“I understand Tennis Australia has made their decision. It’s good to see the young tennis players getting an opportunity. I’m at a place in my life where I don’t complain anymore. I’m focused and I’ve been training hard. I’ll let my tennis do the talking. Last quarter of 2022, I won three tournaments and made four finals.
“This year is my year, if no one is going to help support me, I’ll get back to top 100 on my own. My headspace is very different. I’m in a positive environment, good people around me, I’m in a healthy, happy relationship. Now all there is to do, is get back to where I belong.”
Bernard Tomic has previously admitted being lonely throughout large parts of his career, playing a sport he never truly loved.Credit:Getty
Tomic played 38 matches in 2022, including 24 in the last four months of the season, winning titles in Santo Domingo and Cancun and losing a final in Harlingen, Texas.
He won’t even be in Australia for the grand slam he’s enjoyed plenty of success at over the years. Tomic reached the last 16 three times and made the third round on three other occasions.
He was the youngest player to win the junior Australian Open, at 15 years and three months in 2007. The following year, Tomic saved match points against Italian Potito Starace to become the youngest male in history to win a main-draw match at the Open.
He’s now on his way to Doha to “stay away from the controversy and focus on my tennis career”.
Bernard Tomic during a practice session leading into the Australian Open last year.Credit:Getty
His relationship with Tennis Australia has soured dramatically since he launched an attack on Davis Cup captain and former close ally Lleyton Hewitt, one of the key wildcard judges.
“No one likes him anymore,” Tomic said after a first-round Open exit in 2019. “We have a lot of issues that not a lot of players are happy about. We all know who those players are. Myself, (Thanasi) Kokkinakis, (Nick) Kyrgios.”
Muscles up for United Cup
Australian tennis legend Ken Rosewall has been handed the honour of presenting the inaugural United Cup trophy at the final on Sunday night.
Rosewall, who on Saturday was signing autographs for young fans inside the venue named after him, drove down from his home in Queensland to attend the tournament.
The 88-year-old will present the trophy to the winner of Sunday’s final between the United States and Greece/Italy.
Martina smiles her way to victory
You couldn’t help but notice the smile beaming across the face of Italy’s Martina Trevisan throughout her gruelling three-hour match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari on Friday night.
The Italian, who stunned the world No.6 in one of the matches of the tournament, was asked about her strategy to smile at key stages in her victory.
Italy’s Martina Trevisan during her match against Maria Sakkari of Greece at the United Cup in Sydney.Credit:AP
“Yeah, with me, the smile for me, it helps me a lot during the most nervous moment because there was a lot of up and down, and I remember to smile, and I relax myself,” she said. “I was in an amazing stadium with a lot of people watching me, with all my teammates cheering for me. I looked around and say, ‘How beautiful is it, the life’, and the moment that I was living.”
Mirza’s bowing out
Former world No.1 doubles player Sania Mirza has announced she will retire after next month’s Dubai Tennis Championship.
The six-time grand slam doubles champion, regarded as India’s greatest female player, will play her final grand slam at Melbourne Park this month.
Mirza had planned to retire last year, but a calf injury picked up in August saw her delay her farewell tour. She will play her last tournament next month in the United Arab Emirates where she has lived with husband and former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik for the last decade.
with AAP
Watch the United Cup live and free on the 9Network – Channel 9 and 9Gem. Every match will be available live on 9Now.
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