Bernard Tomic believes he can become the best tennis player of all time – Tennis News
Australian youngster, Bernard Tomic, has claimed that he is pushing himself and would become the best player in the history of the sport one day.
He said in a recent interview, “I'm working really hard and trying to push myself to become the best tennis player I can be. I've had a slippery slope the last year. It's changing me and I'll prove I'm going to be the best-ever player one day to play this
game.”
Tomic’s performance is not going in the same direction as his words. The 20-year-old has been heavily criticised for his non-serious attitude recently. The Australian player’s form slump started in the summer of this year and continued until the end of the
season.
The Monte-Carlo, Monaco resident got sudden fame last year, when he came through the qualifying draws to reach the last eight-stage of Wimbledon. Tomic carried his form into this season, advancing to the semi-finals at the Brisbane International and fourth
round of the Australian Open. The 6ft 5in tall player attained his career high ranking of number 27 in the world and was considered the next flag bearer of Australian Tennis.
However, some controversies distracted the rising star and he fell off the track. After advancing to the quarter-finals of the BMW Open at the start of May, the right-hander lost 12 of his following 16 matches. First round defeat at Wimbledon resulted in
a loss of many points and sudden drop in ranking.
Tomic gave a respectable performance at the Western & Southern Open, as he reached the third round there. However, his second round loss at the hands of retiring American legend, Andy Roddick, led to a lot of criticism. The Australian player not only lost
in straight sets but he received a bagel in the third one. Former world number one, John McEnroe, blamed Tomic of not trying his best in the last set.
Australian Davis Cup team’s non playing captain, Patrick Rafter, has got so annoyed due to the attitude of Tomic that he has dropped the player from the squad for next year’s first round tie against Taiwan.
However, Tomic has claimed that he himself decided to stay away from the tie, as he wanted to prepare for the ATP Tour.
The Australian number two stated, “I was never meant to play that tie. I'm going to use that time to train to prepare for tournaments in America. I spoke to Pat and told him I would miss the first one and maybe the second one ... I was never meant to play,
I told Pat that.”
Tomic’s next assignment is the Hopman Cup later in this month and it is hoped that the he would prove his critics wrong by putting on a good show at the mixed team event.
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