- Bernard Tomic talks about mental health problems
- Tennis star said he struggled for three or four years
- Says he’s feeling better and the rankings will rise
Forgotten Australian tennis star Bernard Tomic has spoken about the mental health issues that led to him losing his passion for the sport and plummeting down the rankings.
Tomic, once ranked as high as world number 17, was denied wildcard entry into the Australian Open for the past two years, missing the tournament for the first time since 2008.
It was a major fall from grace for Tomic, who was once considered one of the most exciting prospects Australia had ever seen.
The former junior world number 1 has now spoken about the mental battle he has endured over the years.
‘The tour is very difficult. Tennis is a very isolated sport. It’s very mentally tough and you’re traveling alone,” Tomic said Sportkeeda.
Bernard Tomic says tennis is ‘an isolated sport’, where you spend a lot of time alone
Tomic, who was once ranked number 17 in the world, says he has struggled mentally
‘You don’t play team sports like football or basketball. You are on your own. There is a lot of traveling involved and a lot of time spent alone. You have to figure out how to feel good mentally and when to recharge your batteries.
“I also struggled for three to four years. I was able to turn it around and feel better mentally. When you travel for many, many years from a young age, it can really affect you mentally.
‘The sport can really exhaust you. You have to figure out what is best for you mentally and always find a way to be positive and move forward. In tennis you have to be mentally sound.’
Tomic, who recently won the ITF M25 Chennai tournament in India, is quietly climbing back up the rankings and believes he can return to the top 50.
‘Around September 2022 I was ranked in the 800th. The last year and a half I’ve been playing pretty well to come back,” Tomic said.
‘I have played a lot of matches. I missed a lot of tennis for three years. I didn’t play that much. And my physical condition deteriorated. It took me some time to get into the rhythm.
‘But now I’m playing quite well. But I still have to play a little better to get back to the top.
‘I feel like I can play very well in the coming years, especially considering my playing style. I don’t use a lot of energy in the way I play.
Tomic says he feels much more positive now and hopes to make it into the top 50
‘So I think the top 100 is very feasible for me. Even top 50. But you still have to stay healthy and do the right things. This next year will be interesting. As long as I stay healthy and keep practicing, I think I’ll be fine, let’s see.”
According to Channel Seven, Tomic won $5,400 for his recent victory in India, plus about $100 for his first-round doubles defeat.
It means his earnings for the tournament would have just about covered his flight and hotel costs.
For context, Tomic would have received $120,000 if he was knocked out in the first round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open.
Tennis Australia – who govern the competition – has a strained relationship with Tomic and he was overlooked for a wildcard entry into the tournament.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said Tomic did not deserve a place in the competition.
“It’s not so much about the relationship, it’s about whether they deserve it,” Tiley said.
“The things we take into account – the shape of the player coming in. There is an age factor in some cases. Do you want to give a younger player the opportunity versus someone who has been the journeyman for a while?”
A reflective Tomic recently said, “Everyone has a different journey.
‘You cannot control fate. You learn to respect life and the little things.
‘If I did the right things at 20 and 24, I wasn’t very professional. I worked really hard, but if I had done a few things right, who knows.’