World reacts to Bernard Tomic’s Wimbledon horror show

[OZCUBAN]

ANOTHER tournament, another Bernard Tomic embarrassment.
The only surprise would be if the Aussie’s disastrous first round exit at Wimbledon actually came as a shock to anyone.
Sadly, the tennis world has become all too used to seeing such implosions from the 24-year-old.
A “bored” Tomic admitted he struggled to find any motivation as he plummeted to a 4-6 3-6 4-6 loss to Mischa Zverev in London. As bad as that was, the world No. 59 saved his biggest bombs for the press room afterwards.
“I don’t know why, but I felt a little bit bored out there to be completely honest with you,” Tomic said.
“So I feel holding a trophy or doing well, it doesn’t satisfy me anymore.
“It’s not there. I couldn’t care less if I make a fourth-round US Open or I lose first round.
“But I think I don’t respect it (tennis) enough, yes, because I — you can say — (I’m) super talented (but not delivering).”
That’s just a snippet of what Tomic had to say, admitting he doesn’t believe that after eight years on the pro circuit he has it in him to compete at the highest level.
Unsurprisingly, his words caused a stir around the world.
‘IT’S A DISGRACE, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT’
The backlash was swift as tennis legends led the chorus of outrage.
Aussie great Rennae Stubbs — a four-time grand slam doubles champion — let fly at Tomic for his excuses.
“To say the things that he said in the press conference today is a disgrace not only to tennis, but to Australian tennis,” Stubbs told the BBC. “If you’re bored and you are not physically there because you don’t train — let’s be honest, you’re not fit enough, you don’t feel like going five sets — don’t play.
“You’re an embarrassment to yourself and not only the sport, but Australian tennis. We have such a long, beautiful history at this event and we have players who try so hard who have half the ability of Bernard Tomic that would give so much to be out there to play that match today.
“So to say that you’re bored and you’re not really interested, it’s just ...”
Tennis royalty Martina Navratilova was just as scathing, saying Tomic’s attitude was “disrespectful” to the sport and the fans.
“It’s disrespectful to the sport, it’s disrespectful to the history of the sport,” Navratilova said. “If you can’t get motivated at Wimbledon it’s time to find another job.
“The spectators, they paid good money ... they spend good money to come here and watch Wimbledon and the guy shows up and doesn’t really show up, doesn’t try. He can’t really be bothered. Just stay home.”
Australian tennis icon Pat Cash was more measured in his comments, but said plenty of players who have gone before Tomic would be “cringing” at what they saw from the youngster at the All England club.
“It wasn’t a great day but I don’t think Bernie by a long shot represents Australian players,” Cash said. “He’s got to do a lot worse than that to ruin the image that we’ve created.
“A lot of ex-players are cringing, a lot of Aussies, especially the guys who started this pro circuit. We wouldn’t be here without these guys.”
TOMIC TRUTH WE DON’T WANT TO ACCEPT
One argument is if Tomic doesn’t love tennis, he should pack it in. But there are plenty of people in the world who don’t love their job, yet turn up to work everyday and collect their pay cheque even if they’re not motivated to perform to a high standard.
Essentially, this is what Tomic is doing. Retired AFL star Adam Cooney says we shouldn’t judge Tomic because he’s no different to so many employees on the planet.
Channel Seven sports reporter Josh Massoud shared a similar view.
“I’m not saying he tried. I’m saying he’s got guts to admit he didn’t. Unlike frauds in the general workplace who get away with it,” Massoud added in a since-deleted tweet.
‘I’M ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED BY HIS COMMENTS’
Respected American tennis player, coach and now analyst Brad Gilbert wasn’t about to offer Tomic any sympathy.
“I’m absolutely disgusted by the comments of Bernie Tomic,” he said on ESPN.
“You beat Mischa Zverev last week, your playing at the cathedral of our sport — Wimbledon, a huge tournament Aussies hold in the highest esteem. You go out there and you don’t want to be out there and then you go in the press room after getting thumped and you reiterate numerous times how bored you are.
“So much was expected of him that at this point he’s going nowhere fast, he has no respect for the game and then you can go out and flippantly say that.
“He’s trying to take some pressure off himself and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to play until I’m 34 but I want to play on my terms.’ If you go out anytime at Wimbledon and say you’re bored and you don’t want to be there, you’ve got something better to do, go take some time off and get a real job. I’m tired of your act Bernie.”
Respected American tennis writer Ben Rothenberg says Tomic’s remark he “couldn’t care less” about exiting in the first or fourth round of the US Open was “an unthinkable quote for a professional athlete” and accused him of trying to create headlines rather than baring his soul.
“I think sadly, and maybe indicatively, people just aren’t all that surprised,” Rothenberg told 3AW radio. “He went straight into sabotaging himself and couldn’t shovel fast enough.
“Everything he said was just designed to cause trouble for him — it was an impressive amount of self-flagellation.
“I think given Australian sport culture, sportsmanship is held in a higher regard there than anywhere else I’ve been.
“I think Tomic knows that, and I think he’s really just trying to stir controversy.”
Tennis writer Steve Tignorsaid he hopes in 10 years — the amount of time Tomic said he has left on the pro tour — Tomic looks back on his “self-lacerating reverie” as a “low point” in his career.
Other reporters also took aim at the underperforming Australian.
While many were keen to lay the boot into Tomic, Channel Seven reporter Tom Browne said his honesty was a cry for help.
GIVE THE MONEY BACK?
Tomic will reportedly pocket $AUD65,000 for his 84-minute capitulation and many have called for him to hand his pay cheque back. When asked about that possibility he somehow brought Roger Federer into the equation.
“If you asked Federer to give back $500 million would he do that or not?” Tomic said.
“We all work for money. At 34 maybe I can donate to charity but if you ask Roger if he’ll do it, I’ll do it. If Roger and Novak (Djokovic) and these guys do it, I’ll do it, no problem.”
Aussie tennis legend Geoff Masters, commentating for Channel Seven, said returning his prizemoney is something Tomic needs to seriously consider.
“He needs to ask himself that question doesn’t he? He needs to look in the mirror and be able to say, ‘I gave it everything I had and I’m proud of what I delivered’ and if he can’t do that then he needs to think about those things,” Masters said on Sunrise.
“People are paying good money to come and watch him play so he’s got to be thoughtful about others and not too self-centred.”
‘IT’S NOT A GOOD EXISTENCE FOR HIM’
Aussie John Millman was eliminated in the first round after copping what he described as “relentless abuse” at the hands of Rafael Nadal, but he said no matter how bad things may seem, he’s never suffered the same problem as Tomic.
go to news.com.au »
“I’ve never found it too hard to find motivation regardless of where I play,” he told RSN radio.
Former Australian netballer Sharelle McMahon said: “It doesn’t seem like a good existence for him.”

[MIKA27]

You beat @Ken Gargett to this, as we all know and share this frustration, anger and embarrassment. Tomic should be ousted and banned from representing our country and the greater sport in general. I'm being SUPER polite here as its the forum...

Tomics attitude is beyond words.

 

[Ken Gargett]

i wasn't even going to bother.

death, taxes and our current tennis grubs embarrassing themselves and us.

i was delighted to see that there was effectively no support for grub 1 for pulling out when two sets down and claiming injury (claims he needs an operation yet it was not so bad that he could not play exhibition games last week for the money). appalling. an utter disgrace.

then this. if my father was still alive, this would have killed him. tomic should be fined and not the typical tennis fine which equates to a round of drinks for 12 year olds. if you completely failed to do you job and had the arrogancy to admit it to those paying you, do you not think you'd be expected to repay what you were paid?

more fool anyone who pays to see either of these morons play tennis. they disgrace tennis.

and yet again, shame on tennis australia for not having disowned them years ago.

[MIKA27]

I know Tomics ranking is plummeting, but thought this is fitting:

[jimsta10]

He's a complete tool. An embarrassment to Aussie tennis and culture. The more light we shine on this nob, the more satisfaction he gets. Australian Tennis should suspend him for 6 months and see how far his wealth would last.

[Ken Gargett]

he has no intention of giving anything back. take take take. and taxpayers pay for the development of these guys. they should be sued.

i actually think the other grub is even worse.

ah, how nice to celebrate aussie sport by attempting to define which vile grub is the worst.

meanwhile, the rugby team flounders about like they have never met and have no interest in doing so.

some female jockey gets done for drugs and everyone is concerned it might tarnish her legacy - news flash. it has. she is now a known drug cheat.

our glorious cricket team might go on strike just in time for the upcoming ashes. unbelievable.

we have had endless football teams exposed for drug use.

one could go on...

[OZCUBAN]

Both typical little WOG boys that I doubt never heard the word NO whilst growing up,having said that IMHO there's still a lot of GROWING up to be Done ......TBC aim sure ?

[MIKA27]

37 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

 

some female jockey gets done for drugs and everyone is concerned it might tarnish her legacy - news flash. it has. she is now a known drug cheat.

one could go on...

You're right about one thing there, she is NOW KNOWN as prior to this, I'd never heard of her...

[99call]

Wow, I don't really follow tennis, but good lord this is not a good look.   What an absolute tool.  Just the way he talks (not even what he's saying) communicates that he thinks everyone around him are idiots and a waste of his time. He's a disgrace.

This is a terrible thing to say, but gladly retirement waits for him, and the real world. I can see a great deal of depression, addiction, jail, bankruptcy waiting for this w**ker.

Hopefully when the time comes he can find the motivation to pull the trigger.

[99call]

It just makes it worse, that he has a nose heaven sent to be smashed to bits.  I think it will only last another few years in tact.

[99call]

PS, love the fact that Martina thinks factory workers go to Wimbledon. 

[Jeremy Festa]

8 minutes ago, 99call said:

It just makes it worse, that he has a nose heaven sent to be smashed to bits.  I think it will only last another few years in tact.

In all honesty. I think everyone should calm down.

You especially. 

This guy had a bad day. Maybe a few too many bad days. But alas, they occur in the public eye. And look, he isn't that bright in the head. Harming him physically, emotionally, wishing any ill will towards him is akin to assaulting a mentally challenged adolescent. 

For shame.

Show some decorum.

Go hit some balls. 

[99call]

10 minutes ago, Jeremy Festa said:

In all honesty. I think everyone should calm down.

You especially. 

This guy had a bad day. Maybe a few too many bad days. But alas, they occur in the public eye. And look, he isn't that bright in the head. Harming him physically, emotionally, wishing any ill will towards him is akin to assaulting a mentally challenged adolescent. 

For shame.

Show some decorum.

Go hit some balls. 

Jeremy, if you found what I said upsetting, then I am genuinely sorry for that, but I will say

Do I mean it??  of course I don't.  And I had little expectation anyone would think I meant it

One of the luxuries I have is, I'm obviously not famous, and the only responsibility I have in this case, is not to be genuinely cruel, offensive, abusive on a cigar forum. I would argue that what I'd said could be seen as throw away venting, that can quite easily be seen as such. 

I am one of the believers that to be lucky enough to be in such a position (famous), you are also unlucky enough to have a public being your best champion, and your harshest critic. In taking the cash, he probably wont realise it, but part of that cash is a fee, for being a role model for fans, and his country men. Effectively he's crapping all over that.

You've told me to calm down, which I'll take on board. but maybe on a counter point, maybe don't take things so literally? 

[Ken Gargett]

34 minutes ago, Jeremy Festa said:

In all honesty. I think everyone should calm down.

You especially. 

This guy had a bad day. Maybe a few too many bad days. But alas, they occur in the public eye. And look, he isn't that bright in the head. Harming him physically, emotionally, wishing any ill will towards him is akin to assaulting a mentally challenged adolescent. 

For shame.

Show some decorum.

Go hit some balls. 

i do agree re the trigger comments etc. bit beyond.

but he should get out of the game, give the money back and never bother us again.

[99call]

Ok, point taken fellas

Maybe the first coffee of the day, is a bad time for me to take to typing. 

I'll take it out on my tax return

[westg]

1 hour ago, Jeremy Festa said:

In all honesty. I think everyone should calm down.

You especially. 

This guy had a bad day. Maybe a few too many bad days. But alas, they occur in the public eye. And look, he isn't that bright in the head. Harming him physically, emotionally, wishing any ill will towards him is akin to assaulting a mentally challenged adolescent. 

For shame.

Show some decorum.

Go hit some balls. 

Fair call J.....i think he would make a great president for a single mens club...

He is going to need all the help he can get...when is 34...10 years from now...he will be flat broke 

[Ken Gargett]

19 minutes ago, magste said:

When will people stop caring about Tomic? Ive said it before and its clear he doesn't care, so why should anyone else?

because, as even these few posts reveal, he demeans australia, embarrasses us on the world stage (as much as we might like to think he does not, sadly he does). and most aussies don't take kindly to that. i would be more than happy to never hear his name again. sadly, yet again, we are waiting for yet another shoe to drop.

[wabashcr]

While arrogant and certainly offensive to many invested in the game of tennis, I thought his honesty was refreshing.  Not too often you hear a professional athlete at the peak of their powers admit their heart just isn't in it anymore, even when it's as clear as day to anyone watching.  Obviously he could have conveyed that message gracefully and simultaneously announced he was stepping away from tennis.  But he's fessed up to his lack of motivation.  Some very talented athletes just don't have the drive to match their ability.  It's a shame that his talent is wasted, but if it's not what he wants to do, can we really fault him for that?

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, magste said:

Tennis is an individual sport and he only represents Australia if he plays Davis Cup, which I think he doesn't anymore? If Australian media ignores him he'll drift away into obscurity soon enough. But unfortunately, as with scandal prone footy stars, media wants him to keep behaving like he is so they can write about it.

Im currently in Europe and there hasnt been anything in the news about him - he's a nobody here. Its only in Australia..
 

 

it got fairly extensive coverage in the new york times and also in the UK, from what i have seen on the net. and that was just what "arrived", not what i looked for.

[Fugu]

27 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

it got fairly extensive coverage in the new york times and also in the UK

Magste is right, Ken - He is a nobody in Europe. Obviously deservedly so. (NYT and in particular UK being rather lame representatives of "old Europe"... )

How many Grand Slams did he win, again...?

[soutso]

16 hours ago, OZCUBAN said:

Both typical little WOG boys that I doubt never heard the word NO whilst growing up,having said that IMHO there's still a lot of GROWING up to be Done ......TBC aim sure ?

Hey! Must pull you up on the "wog" comment. That's uncool. First of all, us wogs don't play tennis. We play soccer and we would have played one of the rugby codes had our overprotective mum's allowed us to.

(or if tackling wasn't so damned hard)

[gweilgi]

2 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

it got fairly extensive coverage in the new york times and also in the UK, from what i have seen on the net. and that was just what "arrived", not what i looked for.

It may have had coverage because such an outburst (aka honesty) is highly unusual.  But to tie this to Australia?  Why should anyone blame Australia or change their views of the Lucky Country because one individual happens to be playing (or not) while holding an Aussie passport?  When Lionel Messi was convicted of tax fraud, nobody blamed Argentina.  When John McEnroe there yet another wobbly on court, nobody went "oh, look at that American!  The US is such a terrible country".  I reckon most people are fully aware that every nation has its shares of arseholes, tossers and ejits.  

[gweilgi]

33 minutes ago, soutso said:

Hey! Must pull you up on the "wog" comment. That's uncool. First of all, us wogs don't play tennis. We play soccer and we would have played one of the rugby codes had our overprotective mum's allowed us to.

(or if tackling wasn't so damned hard)

Soccer ... isn't that the sport where players spend 90 minutes pretending to be hurt?  

And don't you go disrespecting Mama!  She ALWAYS knows what's right!

[soutso]

1 hour ago, gweilgi said:

Soccer ... isn't that the sport where players spend 90 minutes pretending to be hurt?  

And don't you go disrespecting Mama!  She ALWAYS knows what's right!

The key indicator of success in feigning injury is that 

1. You get the penalty

2. You gain Mama's sympathy and the benefits that ensue from that!

[David88]

Oh dear. I think my thoughts on this are pretty much the same as when special K has his moments. They are idiots, but it's infuriating to see such talent being wasted! If these guys were ranked 500 on a good day it would almost be comical. But to see talented players throwing a gift away like this is maddening. Hopefully they will look back on these times when they are older (possibly more mature....) and think the same thing. However still being able to make a good living from what they do makes me think that this may be slightly unlikely.