Suspension Threat Hangs Over Tomic
The Age
Tuesday December 16, 2008
BERNARD Tomic is playing under the threat of a possible lifetime suspension from all ITF Pro Circuit events, and today the Queensland teenager will effectively play to remain in contention for an Australian Open place at Melbourne Park.
Tomic yesterday lost the first of his three round-robin Australian Open wildcard play-off matches to South Australia's world No.254 Colin Ebelthite 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) despite retrieving a service break to earn a match point in the 10th game of the third set, and must now rouse his weary legs for the follow-up encounter with junior rival Dane Propoggia of NSW to remain in contention for a quarter-final place.As he does so, an important decision on Tomic's longer-term future lies with the International Tennis Federation in London, which has the power under its Code of Conduct to banish the Australian Open junior champion as a result of his default from a Futures match in Perth two weeks ago when he was instructed by his father, John, to walk off in protest against the umpiring. At Tennis Australia's insistence, John Tomic made a public apology on Saturday.The incident has already cost Bernard Tomic a $US1350 fine but, however unlikely, far worse could - technically, at least - be to come. The ITF code defines failure to complete a match when a player is "reasonably able to do so" as the major offence of "aggravated behaviour", for which the maximum penalty is permanent suspension from all Pro Circuit tournaments and up to a $US5000 ($A7500) fine.The Pro Circuit comprises the second tier Challenger and Futures events Tomic needs to play to build his senior ranking. A decision is not expected before next month.Yesterday Tomic blamed his movement, rather than the burden of recent events, for the loss against 24-year-old Ebelthite. The winner vomited on court after the standout contest on the play-off's opening day, having finally buried the junior world No.3 on his third match point."My legs were a little bit tired and I had a few chances that I could have won the match, but he's older than me, he's got more power, and my legs were a little bit slack in the last few games," said Tomic. "But it was a good match and we both played well."My movement around the court has been the main key in my development, and suddenly today I couldn't come out in the end, it was really difficult, but he played well when he needed to and he got it out in the end."I'll get a lot more beatings like that in the next few years, that's for sure, but it's part of my career I've got to develop and these things will happen. I've got to just stay focused and work hard and hopefully all goes well."Reigning play-off winner Joe Sirianni is next for Ebelthite, who only returned to tennis in September, 2006, after a two-year break prompted by osteitis pubis and waning motivation. Accepted into the AIS program for 2008, he targeted Tomic's less reliable forehand side to good effect."But it's hard to get there because he hits the ball flat and he hits it pretty hard, so it takes your time away so you can't really dictate as much as you like," Ebelthite said. "And I guess he's got really good reach, and even when you think you've got him on the run he's still got great hands and is able to do something with the ball."Reflecting on the teenager's potential, Ebelthite said: "He has a great tennis brain, he's got a good serve, he's pretty big for 16, he's got a lot of potential and he hits the ball really well, moves well. Yeah, he's going to be a great player."Jelena Dokic despatched young Sophie Letcher 6-3, 6-0 to firm as favourite for the women's wildcard after last year's play-off champion, Jess Moore, was upset 6-2, 6-3 by fellow WA teenager Brittany Sheed of Kalgoorlie. Dokic plays 16-year-old Monika Wejnert today at 10am."Overall, I'm happy," said Dokic, whose emphasis has been on fitness work since her last match, in Austria in October. "I didn't have to play to my maximum, and I was still able to get a comfortable match."Compared to 12 months ago I think I've made a huge improvement."
© 2008 The Age