If dismantling a highly rated and rock solid Top 10 opposition in straights sets is not enough then maybe later placing yourself on the brink of much louder upset in four left little doubt. The erratic nature of the upstart was enough to have this year's multi-masters champion and recent owner of GOATs in trouble. Still a 7/5 battle in the fourth was plenty in order to suggest that he didn't allow a minor pole sitting collapse to get to him.
He may have just bombed out in his Cincinnati Masters qualifying match, but it's a nice world away from the ATP's Challenger Circuit. Some word has it that Bernard Tomic decided he did not need his WC place at the US$50K Dallas Challenger as much as he had initially thought, and to some insulted several of his fellow journeymen professionals by putting in the effort of 'close to nil.' (click for source) Yet, that would still be 'some word.' I am sure the Australian tennis community will give Bernard the benefit of the doubt. They may even think 'Ah why not, sure, he's been pretty squeaky clean up till now. Fair go ol' mate.' Or also, they may not.
In all fairness it probably is forgotten, by and large, by even many of staunchest of critics. The passage of time has a way of seeing things differently, especially when people grow up. Case in point his aussieslavic bretheren Jelena Dokic. The people with this case in mind will be even extra forgiving.
In addition, there was forgiving much earlier from Australians. Because for Australians, they were able to see their Tomic feeling comfortable on stage with the best in the world on prime time. Tomic did not win his 3rd round Australian Open though it was this match with Nadal that Tomic finally delivered on a promise that many had shared up until this point. More importantly Tomic was still lauded by the decision makers at Tennis Australia when he followed up a failed main draw Wildcard entry to the Brisbane 250 with a fight through 3 matches of qualifying before succumbing in three sets in the 1st Round of the Sydney 250 to the rising Ukrainian Alex Dolgopolov. Even in a loss it was a good fight that Tomic had put in here, and enough for officials to let completely die the issue of Tomic's failure to appear at the Australian Wild Card Playoffs in December.
The prime time showdown of Tomic and Nadal was the real arrival for many, as it gave us a glimpse of what might lay in store for the viewers of the game. The relaxed demeanour of Tomic in the face of the mythic Bealeric slinger as he bumped, lurched and carved his way to a 4/0 2nd set lead was enough for experienced viewers to see that this here was a big match player - watching this when up set against his previous televised matches, it could certainly be judged that Tomic almost needed a 'big match' to display his unique array of handyworks.
Indeed, the story is often told about the time around when the precocious Tomic won 5 consecutive ITF Under 18 tournaments at the age of 13 years. The story goes that his forehand would possibly not cope well with a world tour whose surfaces are growing increasingly common and homogeneous. It was believed by many that his flat screwball forehand would not get the reward it might deserve in another time but not this one - not a tour favouring high bouncing, heavily rotating bombs.
Wisely, 'they' chose not to change the forehand, and on the contrary it has been proven that it is actually the tour that might not cope well with it. Talent adapts, and with a deft touch that includes being a fan of sharply oscillating general play between heavy, sporadic attack and an insulting push, you'd have to think he'll be able to figure out the day to day puzzle of the tour. After all, as one tennis scholar professes: you don't have to be better than everyone - just better than one guy on the day. Tomic has the levers and switches to play with inside a match to trouble most it would seem.
In any case back it up at Wimbledon erased much of the audiences memory.
So where to from here? Enter Pat Rafter.
Rule Number 1 of Aussie Davis Cup Club: You do not heap shit on Pat Rafter.
Rule Number 2 of Aussie Davis Cup Club: You do not heap shit on Pat Rafter.
There is a Rule Number 3, but on advice it is not going to get a run here. Needless to say, it says something about the best way to monumentally screw up a potential renaissance period for Australian tennis and tattoo you name in dark colours for a good while to come. If most tennis cultures are to be studied, one success can quite often be the catalyst for many others. The spark. The ignition required for combustion. So, little wonder Australian officialdom were very careful with any words spoken of Tomic.
For Tomic and the Tomic fans who want to know all about him, the preface of a career is over. With Aussie warhorse Rafter's words on Tomic on show for all to see in the video above, you can only get the feeling that Rafter knows he is exactly the man to be in the position that he is right now. The man to cultivate the hard core Australian spirit and harmony that is expected in any hallmark Australian team. Every man and his dog, the wife and her mother adore him. Rafter himself realises he belongs to the last Australian Grand Slam winning generation - who better?
By crossing the man in charge Rafter, Tomic knows that it is public relations hell from there on in. And the pull of Rafter does not end in Australia. The world will know what happened. Captain Patrick Rafter's first win at helm of Australia's post Wimbledon Davis Cup charge at China showed us his nervousness at needing his team to not underestimate any opponent. Respecting opponents was a quality Rafter always showed as a player and is a quality the already confident Tomic would do well to be influenced by - especially at lower level tournaments and in early rounds. Can't bring your A-Game at big matches that you are not a part of.
The footsteps of Dokic will not be retraced. For one, Tomic as a male will have an easier time of finding his own voice. All young players, including Aussieslavs, do grow to have their very own words. And secondly, well, refer to rule #1. The golden sheen of his Davis Cup coach will rub off onto Tomic, and you get the feeling Rafter will recommend the tour guidance of someone in the shape of former Top Tenner Peter MacNamara - the Australian old-schooler who last year was cheif at the helm of driving Grigor Dimitrov's ship from beyond the reaches of the ATP Challenger Tour and into the stratosphere that is the main tour. Pat will, at least, recommend someone with the necessary know how.
But for now, just one or two words in Tomic's ear is enough. And maybe overseeing a couple of successful home style 'Bernard & Lleyton' Davis Cup shows where both are playing singles... you know... patch things up between those two.
All of the above doesn't really matter and doesn't even qualify as mere speculation. It's a simple formality as Croat Ace God Goran recently declared his seal of approval at his slavic bretheren's new mentor during the Tomic and Djokovic battle.
The Challenger Tomic: A Preface Is Over
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