‘I reckon I can get into the top ten’ – Bernard Tomic reveals plans for an ambitious return
Bernard Tomic has revealed his plans for a return and feels capable of breaking into the top ten after reaching 17th in the world with just “60% effort.”
Tomic began his tennis career in great fashion, winning two junior Grand Slams aged 15 and becoming the youngest winner of the Australian Open Junior Boys’ Championships.
Tomic also reached a career high ATP ranking of 17th in the world, although he claims he achieved this with just “60% effort.”
However, 29-year-old Tomic quickly developed a ‘bad boy’ tag after a series of controversial comments aimed at journalists, as well as being fined by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following allegations of tanking.
Tomic appealed the fine but his appeal was rejected and he was provided with an ultimatum in an attempt to improve his sportsmanship and conduct.
In his first interview in two years, Tomic told the Courier Mail that he misses the feeling of the ATP tour and is aiming to break into the world’s top ten.
“I’m feeling good. I’m going to try and turn this around and give myself the best chance in the next couple of years. I’ve got one more chance at this. I’ll try and do it for myself.
“The moments of the pressure. Playing these top guys. Winning, losing, that feeling. You miss that sort of stuff. The crowd. When the whole audience gets behind you, you miss that.
“I wasn’t really mentally there. As opposed to now I’ve realised, knuckle down, do the right thing, stay healthy and give tennis one more shot – the right way.
“Now it’s all about getting it right, having a good crack the next five or six years and getting back to the top. I miss that feeling.
“One of my goals is to finish off right. And retire happy. So we’ll see.
“Guys are aged 40, 38, and in the top 50, top 100, top 30. I don’t want to play pro tennis until I’m 38. It’s not something I strive for. I’m good at it. But I don’t see myself playing then.
“At least the next half decade I do. That’s why I better have one more good crack at it, turn it around, do the right thing then retire happy.
“I have a goal. For sure one is to get top 10. When I got to 17 in the world, I was a couple of points away from finishing 12. That was really at 60 per cent effort.
“I reckon I can get into top 10. One of my goals is to finish it off right. I reckon it can be done in two or three years.”
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