Australia Open News. The Heat. Tomics Groin Tear and Matosevic is Mad.

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 15th January 2014

Australia Open News. The Heat. Tomics Groin Tear and Matosevic is Mad.

epa04021649 Sabine Lisicki of Germany during a break in her match against Monica Niculescu of Romania in round two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 15 January 2014. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Australian Open Ties Record of Nine First Round Retirements

Australian Open officials were counting the cost of playing on in 42 Celsius heat, with a record–equaling nine first-round retirements recorded on sweltering Day two of the grand slam.

The Tuesday count included eight men and one women, equaling the mark for the most retirements/walkovers in any single round at any grand slam in the post-1968 Open era. There were also nine at the US Open first round three years ago and in the Wimbledon second round last summer.

The Melbourne list included: Andrey Golubev – calf, Alex Bogomolov – shoulder, Tommy Haas – shoulder, John Isner – foot, Radek Stepanek – neck, Julian Reister – no reason given, Robin Haase – left leg cramps, Bernard Tomic – groin, Polona Hercog – right rib.

The total is not too far from the all-time composite worst at any major, with 17 recorded (11 men and 6 women) at the 2011 US Open.

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Tomic Aware of Issue Before Match Started

Bernard Tomic said a scan showed that he was wise to quit his match against Rafael Nadal amid jeers at the Australian Open after suffering a small groin tear.

“I think it (the tear) was due to a lot of tennis over the past two weeks. Playing very good in the Hopman Cup, playing very good in Sydney – maybe it was too much.”

The 21-year-old described the tear as “just a small one, it’s not that big. But if I had played on it would have been 10 times worse, they say, so I could have been out potentially for three, four months. I’m very happy I stopped. It was the right call.”

Australia travel to France after the January 26 end of the Open, with Tomic a key element in the strategy of captain Patrick Rafter. Doctors estimate normal healing time at up to three weeks, too long for Tomic due to the Davis Cup date.

Tomic said he wanted to put his side of the story after being booed by the fans. “I was ready to challenge Rafa and unfortunately this happened. I felt like I got booed a little bit on court, which was pretty unfair. I just needed to get my side out, which is, you know, obviously the truth and it’s important.

“My recovery is going to start as quick as it can because I have the Davis Cup, and if I’m not ready for the Davis Cup it’s going to be very difficult for us.”

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Matocevic Says He Is Not “Mad Dog”

Much to his chagrin, Australia’s Marinko Matocevic has been saddled with the nickname ‘Mad Dog.’ He certainly lived up to such a title as he suffered a first round Grand Slam exit for the 12th time in a row at the Australian Open, aiming complaints at a variety of people with his coach Mark Woodforde top of the list.

The 28 year-old from Melbourne also raged at the female chair umpire Marija Cicak and his hometown fans during the 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 exit against 16th-seeded Kei Nishikori. Few can have been surprised a point penalty during the display although it was only for a time violation.

Matocevic’s relationship with Australia’s all-time doubles great Woodforde has been rocky for some time. But in the final set, with his temper now raging, he loudly berated his coach for adopting a measured silent approach to the tantrum going on before him rather than verbally joining in the histrionics.

”I wanted my coach to vocally support me, but he wouldn’t,” said Matosevic, without a hint of contrition for his outburst which did little for his public image. ”Some players need verbal support, some don’t. I’m a player that likes it and needs it and wants it. So if my coach is just going to sit there and clap, I expect more.”

Matocevic had stronger words of criticism and aimed some strong invective at umpire Cicak for the time violation in the third set, after rather understandably delaying play to take a drink in the brutally hot conditions.

“’That was bulls**t,” he stormed. “It was like a long game. I wanted a drink. I allowed myself to get distracted. But when have you seen that a guy’s taking his bottle to the back of the court. He can do it, so I’ll take a drink.”

Matocevic was earlier warned for apparent stalling tactics when he had trouble for his cap. “I shouldn’t have gotten the first time warning either for equipment,” he insisted. “My hat went loose. The thing broke at the back.”

But Matosevic found some assistance from chair when he asked umpire Cicak to implore fans to stop calling him “Mad Dog.”

“Hearing the stupid nickname—it’s not my nickname. Some idiot put it on Wikipedia,” Matosevic said.

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, Bernard Tomic, Marinko Matocevic, Melbourne, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Tommy Haas