‘Trapped’ Tomic says he has no love for the game

SYDNEY: Australian star Bernard Tomic admits he has no love for a game that has earned him millions, saying it is just a job and he feels “trapped”.

In a frank Australian television interview, the 24-year-old told his fans to stay at home rather than paying to watch him play if they were opposed to his polarising on-court antics.“Don’t come,” Tomic said late Sunday. “Just watch on TV, you don’t have to pay anything.”

Tomic, who was hit with a US$15,000 fine after he claimed he was “bored” during his lacklustre first-round defeat at Wimbledon last month, said he oscillates between full commitment and apathy on court.

“Throughout my career I’ve given 100 percent. I’ve given also 30 percent. But if you balance it out, I think all my career’s been around 50 percent,” he said in the interview. I haven’t really tried, and (still) achieved all this. So it’s just amazing what I’ve done.”

The talented Tomic has long been plagued by controversy, making headlines last year when he turned his racquet the wrong way to face a match point against Fabio Fognini in Madrid.

He has slid down the rankings to 73 from a career-high 17. Tomic divides opinion in Australia and there was both criticism and support following his latest candid revelations.

He has had a fractious relationship with Tennis Australia, which dropped him from the Davis Cup team, but the organisation’s head of performance Wally Masur expressed sympathy Monday.

“Bernie has been ultra-professional since he was 14 and it’s almost like he’s suffering some sort of burn-out at the moment,” Masur told reporters.The tabloid Sydney Daily Telegraph pulled no punches: “Few people lose any sleep over Bernard Tomic these days. As a nation Australia has become accustomed to the tennis brat’s shameful performances on the tennis court and off it.”

But he won a more sympathetic hearing on social media.“Tough to watch because Tomic is a talent that doesn’t realise his potential. Needs guidance and direction,” tweeted Australian football star Tim Cahill.

Aussie NBA basketballer Andrew Bogut said on social media: “Watched Tomic interview. Will cop flak for my opinion: His family is the root of most of what’s going on. Hope he finds peace + bounces back.”