Bernard Tomic blasted by Herald Sun
Teenage Australian pro, Bernard Tomic is becoming the Aussie media’s new target, replacing Lleyton Hewitt in the line of fire. He has been facing considerable criticism after he opted out sick from this week’s wildcard play-offs, for the Australian Grand Slam in January.
The eighteen year old tennis player is currently world number 208 and has been heavily denounced by Melbourne’s Herald Sun for dropping out of the event. The newspaper said, “Tennis stars are historically encouraged to boost themselves as the best things since Pat Cash's headband. Tomic appears to have assumed this sense of self-importance, even though he has not yet assumed the sporting status that would qualify him to".
The Herald Sun seems to feel that Tomic (also a previous source of controversy) considers himself “entitled” – he reportedly felt that being an Australian player, he would be awarded a wildcard into the tournament regardless of his participation, or lack thereof in the play-offs at Melbourne Park.
However, a few days after calling in sick for the playoffs, Tomic was seen training at Queensland in seemingly perfect health. The Herald Sun picked up on this and declared that while most sportsmen would play despite injuries, Tomic seemed to believe that he was above the norm.
The newspaper also compared him with Hewitt and his legendary arrogance, saying, “Some, like Lleyton Hewitt, can get away with being obnoxious. You mightn't want Hewitt at your backyard barbecue - imagine the outburst if he was offered a burnt sausage - but he has won Grand Slams”. This expresses the opinion that players like Hewitt have earned their place under the sun, while Tomic’s “attitude precedes the talent”.
At world number 208, he has not achieved any significant career victories and his own arrogance is unwarranted. However, the article ended with the hope that he would participate in the first Grand Slam of 2011, it says, “Let's hope Tomic plays the Australian Open. The sport has enough drama queens, especially the teenage variety who have not grasped nuances of the grown-up world, such as grace and charm. But it could also use some new stars".
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