It’s ATomic! – Bernie Tomic’s explosive behavior.

In his 6-2, 6-2 loss to Fabio Fognini at the Madrid Open, Bernie Tomic held is racquet backwards, a gesture which can only be understood as tanking and giving up.  Asked afterwards about this move, Tomic had the following comment:

"I don't care about that match point. Would you care if you were 23 and worth over $10 million?"

The tennis tour is not pleased when their professional athletes openly fail to compete, as such behavior undermines the integrity of the sport.  Not only are fans deprived of the action they paid to see, but a number of other more disturbing issues potentially arise.  For example, with the recent revelations about betting on tennis and match fixing, can we be absolutely sure that Tomic did not have a relationship with a gambler who wagered that he would lose to Fognini by 6-2, 6-2?  Such questions are more likely to be asked when players justify match tanking by crowing about how much money they have.  There is no evidence that such an unsavory arrangement existed in this case, and no accusation of this kind should be made without solid supportive evidence.  So I am NOT suggesting that match fixing was behind this stunt.  I am saying, though, that players should be aware of the full ramifications their actions before they tank a match.

Australian tennis is now voicing reservations about whether Tomic belongs on the Olympic team.   Given that the Olympics are not played for prize money, and Tomic’s satisfaction with being “worth over 10 million”, perhaps the Olympics are not for him. 

Earlier this year Tomic had a bit of spat with Roger Federer, who commented that Tomic had not yet shown the level of play needed to reach the top 10 in the rankings.  Tomic has frequently been described by himself and others as having “top 10 talent”.   Few people know better than Federer, though, that attaining a top 10 ranking requires not only that you beat top 10 players, but that you consistently beat lower ranked players.  You must put forth your best effort in every match to reach the top of the tennis ladder.   Tomic’s retort to Federer was that he (Federer) could not beat Novak Djokovic.  Leaving aside Federer’s 2015 wins over Djokovic in masters 1000 events, there is some truth to Tomic’s statement.  However, Federer certainly has one thing over Tomic – at least he’s trying to win.