Tomic Hires Co-Coach Zovko Of Croatia

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 4th December 2013

Tomic Hires Co-Coach Zovko Of Croatia

epa03868564 Bernard Tomic of Australia returns the ball to Lukasz Kubot of Poland during the Davis Cup World Group playoff between Poland and Australia in Warsaw, Poland, 15 September 2013. EPA/BARTLOMIEJ ZBOROWSKI POLAND OUT |

Bernard Tomic has finally found a new coach in the form of Croatian Velimir Zovko, who according to the Age has already arrived in Melbourne to help prepare him for the new season.

Zovko was hired by Tomic’s father, John, to coach until his suspension from the tour lapses in May. John Tomic was suspended a year for assaulting Bernard’s former hitting partner, Thomas Drouet.

The Tomics are of Croatian origin, so Zovko could be good fit. Zovko has coached WTA player Jelena Kostanic as well as Russia’s Polina Leykina.

”Obviously he’s from Croatia, he speaks my language, and it’s very important for me to have a good communication, someone that understands me, my background, because it’s not easy – I’m a difficult sort of guy,” Tomic told the newspaper. “Obviously my dad’s gonna be still involved; I’ll sort of have two coaches and they’re gonna work through it with me until my dad’s ban [ends] in May. Until then, I’m going to try with this new coach, with my dad on his side, both of them helping. I know not many players have two coaches, it’s something new for me, but I’m gonna try and see how that goes, and then we’ll see how it unfolds after May. If not, [I can] go back to my own formula.”

Bernard Tomic has been working a bit with Tennis Australia in Melbourne, where his family just moved. Recently, legendary coach Tony Roche offered to work with him during the off-season alongside Lleyton Hewitt.

But John Tomic is still running the ship outside of tournaments and it’s important that he gets along with the co-coach.

”This guy [Zelko] will be more there on court, spending more hours with me, my dad will sort of be less, but obviously my dad knows me best, and if he sees something that’s obviously wrong or mistaken then they’ll have a talk about it outside of tennis … so that’s understood between them, and they are ready to take on the role,” Bernard said.

No. 51 Tomic has had a sporadic 2013 at best, but still thinks he can end 2014 in the top 20. He just turned 21 and there are pictures of him on the internet celebrating his birthday at a nightclub where he received a lap dance.

”It’s tough, but I’ve gotta put my head down,” he said.

”I had fun. Obviously I celebrated my 21st … I’m gonna train now and see how I go. I’m ready to go. I always train well before Aussie, everyone knows that, so it’s the important thing to play well after, which I’ll be ready this year. I’m young, so I’m learning. Ups and downs.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Bernard Tomic, John Tomic, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Thomas Drouet, Velimir Zovko