Tennis Australia: Bernard Tomic is 'deliberately trying to damage' Davis Cup culture
Tennis Australia has slammed the door on Bernard Tomic and his hopes of returning to the Davis Cup fold, declaring that the controversial 26 year old ‘‘does not meet the standards of behaviour and commitment to himself, the team or the sport’’.
Crucially, the sport’s governing body also says it’s not aware of any formal complaint lodged by Tomic or his father John Tomic over their claim that Lleyton Hewitt had traumatised the then 17-year-old Tomic when he was a Davis Cup debutant nine years ago.
Less than a week after refusing to definitively close the door on Tomic, Tennis Australia chief executive, Craig Tiley, on Saturday got on the front foot about Tomic ahead of the screening of an interview the one-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist has given to the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes program on Sunday.
Tomic provided a massive distraction at the Australian Open after his first round exit when he launched a broadside at Lleyton Hewitt, claiming the Davis Cup captain had “ruined the system” and “no one likes him”. Tomic also claimed the two-time major winner favoured certain players with national selection.
Hewitt eventually fired back at Tomic after his doubles exit at Melbourne Park, claiming Tomic had threatened his family and tried to blackmail him in the past two years. Hewitt, Australia’s Davis Cup captain since 2016, also vowed that Tomic would never represent his country while he was in the chair.
Six days ago Tiley, took a diplomatic tone over the spat between Tomic and Hewitt, predicting that the pair would meet at some point. "As far as I’m concerned the doors are always open for players to compete," Tiley told ABC Grandstand.
"You’d want them to have that conversation and Lleyton is the captain of the team and that will happen at some point."
But that stance was reversed on Saturday.
“Lleyton is right to say Bernard will not be considered for Davis Cup. Bernard does not meet the standards of behaviour and commitment to himself, the team or the sport,’’ Tiley said in a statement.
‘‘Now, he is deliberately trying to damage that culture –and not for the first time. Our organisation remains deeply disappointed with the ongoing disrespect from Bernard and his father (John Tomic). We have given more than a decade of support.
‘‘Ultimately, we have to draw a line when the behaviour does not warrant the support.”
Two weeks ago Hewitt first “drew a line in the sand”, referring to the alleged threats Tomic had made to his family.
“I just think threats that I’ve received for me and my family – that I’ve had for a year and a half – I don’t think anyone would reach out to a person that speaks like that," Hewitt said.
When asked to specify the nature of the blackmail, Hewitt said Tomic had threatened not to play Davis Cup.
The bust-up during the Australian Open escalated further when John Tomic claimed Hewitt had traumatised his son as a 17-year-old Davis Cup debutant in 2010 by coming to his hotel room and demanding the then-teenager tell him who at Tennis Australia was “against” him.
In withdrawing his support for Tomic, Tiley on Saturday pointed to the country’s renowned Davis Cup culture ‘‘based on hard work’’ and ‘‘supporting your teammates’’.
“We expect players to be respectful of the sport and each other,’’ Tiley said.
“In regards to John Tomic’s recent claim in the media about an alleged incident in 2010, we are not aware of any formal complaint lodged by either John or Bernard. Both Bernard and John have enjoyed a lot of support since in many areas of their lives – including a long and sustained period of personal commitment and whole-hearted effort from Lleyton Hewitt as Davis Cup captain.’’