Aussie tennis bad boy Bernard Tomic returned to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs, the 2013 Apia International title, yesterday. But it didn’t go to plan.
Playing at the NSW Open as the third seed against Japanese wildcard Hayato Matsuoka, Tomic quit just one point into the second set as he struggled with a leg injury in what was a sadly signature Tomic display.
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The 33-year-old veteran has enjoyed a late-career resurgence in the last few years.
At the end of August 2022, Tomic was a 29-year-old ranked 835 in the world, and completely off the radar, but is now 182 in the world with more than $220,000 in prize money this year alone.
It had many feeling that the days of ‘Tomic the Tank’ were behind him.
But, irrespective of a leg injury on Tuesday, the Aussie put up hardly an inspiring display.
According to The Australian, after losing the first game of the match, he shouted, “I can’t run”, in a bid to excuse his unimpressive start to the crowd of barely a dozen people.
The news outlet reports that for the entirety of the first set – which he lost 6-4 – the Aussie would look at his strings almost every point he lost, as to almost blame his equipment as the reason why he was losing.
After losing the first set, he sat down to regroup before coming out for the second set.
He lasted one point before throwing in the towel.
It was a poor showing from a player who has created more negative than positive headlines in his career, and many are stunned to learn he is still toiling away.
Lleyton Hewitt, who was at the NSW Open as he prepares to team up with his son Cruz in the doubles, was asked by journalists on Tuesday as to why he believes Tomic is still playing, and he was even at a loss as to why.
“It’s a hard one – I don’t think anyone fully knows,” Hewitt told The Australian.
“I’m not sure if he doesn’t know what else to do, or if he still feels he has some unfinished business. It’s a tough one, but you’ve got to take your hat off to him in terms of the places he’s gone to, and the tournaments that he’s been playing the last few years, compared to where he was at centre stage and playing the big names.
“He’s still going out there and having a crack. He doesn’t mind playing on backcourts. I spoke to him a couple of times this week, and I don’t know what his plans are.”
Earlier this year, Tomic told the Changeover podcast that his goal is again to crack the top 100 and try to fulfil his potential so he can retire without regret.
“Tennis has become part of my life ever since I was seven. Obviously, I had a dad that pushed me extremely hard, and that’s one of the reasons I got there, in a sense,” Tomic said in June.
“But when you look at this whole picture, now that I’m 32, it’s a purpose. It still gives me something to do. Without tennis, I don’t know what I would do.
“I’m sitting about 200 in the world, or whatever, and my goal is to be top 100, and then I can retire. It’s more of a statement, that sort of thing, so let’s see if I can do it.
“But the whole sort of sense you’ve got to find your purpose, something that gets you going now that you’re older, you want something to give. And it’s about tennis.
“It’s the only thing I’m good at. I’ve been good at it for almost three decades, so it gets me going. I can still play decent. I’m not in my prime like I was … but that’s why I’m challenging myself to get back there one more time. And then retire happy, guilt-free.”
Tomic has been a polarising figure in his career, which dates back to 2008.
A degree of it is undeserved, but he hasn’t done himself any favours either.
Tomic has often been criticised for quitting when the going gets tough. And while he seemed to turn it around for a few years as he climbed back into the top 250, old habits appear to be creeping back in.
Since August, Tomic has retired mid-match three times, twice citing injury and the other ‘general fatigue’.
A top 100 spot also appears well out of reach for the 33-year-old, whose love of the sport and ageing body becomes increasingly questionable.
So it begs the question that only he can answer. With almost $7 million in career earnings, why keep playing?
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