Bernard Tomic Will Play Paris With Australian Coaches Helping Him

Written by: Staff on 23rd May 2013

Tennis Conde Godo tournament in Barcelona

Bernard Tomic Will Play Paris With Australian Coaches Helping Him

epa03675345 Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic returns the ball to Argentinian Juan Monaco during their second round match at the Conde Godo Tournament in Barcelona, northeastern Spain, 24 April 2013. EPA/ALEJANDRO GARCIA |

With John Tomic banned from even entering the gates at Roland Garros, his son and Australia’s leading male player Bernard will still take his place in the French Open’s 128-strong main draw and according to Tennis Australia’s Head of Men’s Tennis, Todd Woodbridge just one win could be the perfect therapy.

“Winning a match would be great and if he gets a tough draw just playing a really tight, solid match. I think that’s his first goal,” insisted Woodbridge after another episode in the Tomic saga which has heaped embarrassment on Australian tennis.

Tomic Sr. is awaiting trial on a charge he head-butted Bernard’s training partner, Frenchman Thomas Drouet, in Madrid earlier this month. Whether he will actually be in Paris remains uncertain but whether he awaits his son in their chosen hotel or simply speaks daily on the telephone, he will remain a major influence.

Woodbridge maintained he, along with Australia’s Davis Cup coach Josh Eagle, would be in the Tomic coaching box said: “John is still his coach so he may not be on site but he’s still going to be giving the instructions – their relationship is still strong.”

Bernard, currently ranked world no.59, dropping seven places following his decision to pull out of last week’s Internazionale BNL d’Italia in Rome, does not have a great French Open record and in three previous appearances has only managed to win one match.

Expectations for the 20 year-old are understandably low but Woodbridge said: “I think it’s very important that he plays Roland Garros but whether he has a good result or not is probably unlikely given the surface and the circumstances.

“He can handle that side of things – there’s been plenty of it so far. But he needs to keep playing coming into the grass court season – that’s where he’s played some great tennis before and if you don’t get that little bit of match play, it’s hard to get the momentum going.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Australian tennis news, Bernard Tomic, French Open, John Tomic, Tennis Australia, Todd Woodbridge, Tomic