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Drama Tails Tomic in — and out of — French Open Tomic Quits Match, Drama Trailing as He Limps Off
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — When Bernard Tomic took the court for his first-round match Tuesday, he was in a rare position for a professional athlete: much more attention was focused on who was in the crowd than who was on the clay.PARIS — When Bernard Tomic took the court for his first-round match Tuesday, he was in a rare position for a professional athlete: much more attention was focused on who was in the crowd than who was on the clay.
Tomic’s father and coach, John, was barred from attending the French Open last week, even if he bought a ticket and tried to enter with the other fans. He was arrested in Madrid earlier this month, accused of assaulting his son’s training partner, Thomas Drouet. Tomic’s father and coach, John, was barred last week from attending the French Open, even if he bought a ticket and tried to enter with the other fans. He was arrested in Madrid earlier this month, accused of assaulting his son’s training partner, Thomas Drouet.
The question Tuesday was whether John Tomic would try to sneak in to see Bernard, a 20-year-old rising Australian star, and what tournament officials would do if he was spotted in the modest stands that surround Court 6. The mystery made a meeting between the 61st-ranked Tomic and the 54th-ranked Victor Hanescu a must-see match for the TMZ age, even in a sport whose history has been dotted with abusive parents. The question Tuesday was whether John Tomic would try to sneak in to see Bernard, a rising Australian star, and what tournament officials would do if he was spotted in the modest stands that surround Court 6. The mystery made a meeting between the 61st-ranked Tomic, 20, and the 54th-ranked Victor Hanescu a must-see match for the TMZ age, even in a sport whose history has been dotted with abusive parents.
Tomic said his father was in Paris, but apparently he stayed back at the hotel. Moments after the match started, though, Bernard had another, more prosaic, drama to deal with. Tomic said that his father was in Paris, but apparently he stayed back at the hotel. Moments after the match started, though, Bernard had another, more prosaic, drama to deal with.
On the second point of the match, he felt a tearing in his right hamstring. He grabbed the back his leg and grimaced as he continued to play and he received treatment on the court after three games. He lost the first two sets, the second in a tiebreaker after a rain delay of 70 minutes. Tomic then retired after the first three games of the third set. On the second point of the match, he felt a tearing in his right hamstring. He grabbed the back of his leg and grimaced as he continued to play and he received treatment on the court after three games. He lost the first two sets, the second in a tiebreaker after a rain delay of 70 minutes. Tomic then retired after the first three games of the third set.
So much about Tomic is head-scratching, and this moment was no different. When he approached Hanescu to shake his hand, Tomic chatted with him and smiled. Then, before leaving the court, he signed a few autographs.So much about Tomic is head-scratching, and this moment was no different. When he approached Hanescu to shake his hand, Tomic chatted with him and smiled. Then, before leaving the court, he signed a few autographs.
By the time Tomic met with reporters, he had turned serious again. He opened his news conference with a statement, his first extensive public remarks on his father since the Madrid incident.By the time Tomic met with reporters, he had turned serious again. He opened his news conference with a statement, his first extensive public remarks on his father since the Madrid incident.
“He’s here right now in Paris so, you know, he’s still working with me, he’s still my dad, he’s still my coach and, you know, I love him a lot,” said Tomic, who had not played a match since losing in the first round in Madrid.“He’s here right now in Paris so, you know, he’s still working with me, he’s still my dad, he’s still my coach and, you know, I love him a lot,” said Tomic, who had not played a match since losing in the first round in Madrid.
Tomic did not want to talk about the incident in Madrid, but said it was difficult for him. Tomic did not want to talk about the incident in Madrid, saying only that it was difficult for him.
Later in the news conference, after he said a doctor told him the hamstring tear would keep him out only a week or two, Tomic said he was considering hiring an outside person to help with his training, “not sort of a coach but someone just to help me a little bit.” Later in the news conference, after he said a doctor told him the hamstring tear would keep him out a week or two, Tomic said he was considering hiring an outside person to help with his training, “not sort of a coach but someone just to help me a little bit.”
Tomic said he had not decided who that person would be, but that perhaps it would come before the grass-court season begins in the run-up to Wimbledon. Tomic said his father would always be his coach because he knows his game better than anyone. But when asked if he was concerned that someone might be reluctant to take the job, given his father’s reputation, Tomic smiled. Tomic said he had not decided whom that person would be, but that perhaps it would come before the grass-court season begins in the run-up to Wimbledon. Tomic said his father would always be his coach because he knows his game better than anyone. But when asked if he was concerned that someone would be reluctant to take the job, given his father’s reputation, Tomic smiled.
“No, I’ve thought about it,” he said. “I probably, you know, have a choice of two or three people now. I will decide that with my dad over the next week, and you know who knows? Maybe you’ll see someone you don’t expect.” “No, I’ve thought about it,” he said. “I probably, you know, have a choice of two or three people now. I will decide that with my dad over the next week, and you know, who knows? Maybe you’ll see someone you don’t expect.”
Whoever it is, Tomic will need him. For several years, he has been considered one of tennis’s most promising players. But in the wake of the Madrid accusations, the ATP and the International Tennis Federation announced that they would not give credentials to his father for any of their tournaments. On Tuesday, Johnny Perkins, a spokesman for the All-England Club, said in an e-mail that Wimbledon would not give John Tomic a credential and would ban him from the grounds. Whoever it is, Tomic will need him. For several years, he has been considered one of tennis’s most promising players. But in the wake of the Madrid accusations, the ATP Tour and the International Tennis Federation announced that they would not give credentials to his father for any of their tournaments. On Tuesday, Johnny Perkins, a spokesman for the All-England Club, said in an e-mail that Wimbledon would not give John Tomic a credential and would bar him from the grounds.
That leaves Tomic essentially alone at his matches. Drouet, who said after the Madrid incident that he had also seen John strike Bernard, is also in Paris, but according to L’Equipe, he is working with Marion Bartoli of France. That leaves Tomic essentially alone at his matches. Drouet, who said after the Madrid incident that he had also seen John strike Bernard, is also in Paris, but according to the French newspaper L’Équipe, he is working with Marion Bartoli of France.
Tomic said that he is able to let such things go, and that he thought he had been training well before the French Open. He added that his father’s absence was not a problem during the match Tuesday as much as the fact that he could not feel his right leg. Tomic said that he is able to let such things go, and that he thought he had been training well before the French Open. He added that his father’s absence was not a problem during the match Tuesday as much as not being able to feel his right leg.
But Tomic also acknowledged his bumpy career trajectory, saying he had not yet fulfilled his significant potential. But Tomic also acknowledged his bumpy career trajectory, saying he had not yet fulfilled his potential.
“I’ve experienced where I didn’t have to defend nothing and when I got up there it was very easy and comfortable, I was very relaxed,” he said. “But then it became difficult to sort of defend stuff. I got nervous, a little bit of pressure and I didn’t quite handle it well. Came the time again where I turned it around and I played well and, you know, I showed that I can play, but this is the problem at a young age, you’re up and down.”“I’ve experienced where I didn’t have to defend nothing and when I got up there it was very easy and comfortable, I was very relaxed,” he said. “But then it became difficult to sort of defend stuff. I got nervous, a little bit of pressure and I didn’t quite handle it well. Came the time again where I turned it around and I played well and, you know, I showed that I can play, but this is the problem at a young age, you’re up and down.”
He was down again Tuesday, albeit with an awkward smile on his face and few moments of disarming candor. On Wednesday, Tomic said, he and his father will leave Paris for Monaco, where Bernard trains, to prepare for the coming season on grass, his favorite surface. He was down again Tuesday, albeit with an awkward smile and few moments of disarming candor. On Wednesday, Tomic said, he and his father will leave Paris for Monaco, where Bernard trains, to prepare for the grasscourt season.