Pat Rafter expressed astonishment upon learning that Bernard Tomic is still active in professional tennis at the age of 32. With the Australian Open just weeks away, the Australian tennis legend shared his thoughts on potential contenders for the year’s first Grand Slam.
Initially, Rafter commented on Nick Kyrgios’ return, suggesting that while he wouldn’t be surprised if the 29-year-old made a deep run, an early exit was also a possibility. When the conversation turned to Tomic, once considered one of the sport’s most promising talents, Rafter was taken aback. Tomic, who has four ATP titles and reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon in 2011, has seen his career take a downturn in recent years. He has not competed at the main level for five years, primarily participating in ITF and Challenger circuits, and is currently ranked No. 214 in the world.
“Bloody hell. Thirty-two? It’s good to see Bernie have a crack. I haven’t seen him play in years. Let’s have a look, see how he goes,” Rafter told AAP when asked about Tomic’s prospects.
Tomic’s relationship with Tennis Australia has been strained, which many believe has affected his chances of receiving wildcards for tournaments. He last appeared in the main draw of the Australian Open in 2021 after winning three qualifying matches. Since then, he has struggled to gain entry, failing to qualify in 2022 and not participating in the last two years after being denied a qualifying wildcard.
Earlier this month, Tomic expressed hope for a wildcard to the Brisbane International before the Australian Open, but tournament director Cam Pearson indicated that this was unlikely. “Rankings will determine the field for the qualifiers and a couple of wildcards as well. We haven’t made decisions on the wildcards, but I suspect it would be pretty tough to give one to him,” Pearson said.
Despite Tomic’s challenges in securing a wildcard, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley stated that decisions are based on merit rather than personal relationships. “It’s not so much about the relationship, but it’s about if they’re deserving. We consider the form of the player coming in and age factors, as we want to give younger players opportunities,” Tiley explained. While Tomic will be able to compete in the Australian Open qualifying rounds, a main draw wildcard seems unlikely.
Reflecting on his career, Tomic acknowledged his past mistakes but emphasized his growth over the last two years. In an interview with The Hindu, he stated, “Of course, I have changed a lot. I have matured a little bit more. It has positively impacted my game. If I knew these things in my 20s, maybe I could have won a Grand Slam. I do not know if I did the right thing. Whatever is meant to happen will happen. You cannot control destiny; everything happens for a reason in life. I respect the little things. For sure, I could have been in the top 10, but it is okay. I am in a happy space now. I will try to break into the top 100 or top 50 again and do good things in the next three years.”
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