Troubled tennis star Bernard Tomic announced yesterday he would not represent Australia at this year’s Olympic Games, with unperturbed officials responding that they only want dedicated athletes on their Rio de Janeiro team.
It follows Tomic and fiery compatriot Nick Kyrgios being warned that their on-court behavior could threaten their places at the Games in August.
World No. 22 Tomic is instead to play a low-ranking ATP Tour event in Mexico, which is on at the same time.
Photo: AFP
“With a heavy sense of regret, I have made the difficult decision to not play with the Australian tennis team as they pursue an Olympic medal in Rio,” Tomic said in a statement. “I have always proudly represented my country in Davis Cup, and given my all when wearing the green and gold, but on the basis of my extremely busy playing schedule and my own personal circumstances, I am regrettably unable to commit to this year’s tournament.”
“I make this decision based on what is best for my tennis career,” he added.
The announcement comes after widespread criticism of Tomic’s recent on-court attitude and concern over his behavior by the Australian Olympic Committee.
He made headlines last week when he turned his racket the wrong way to face a match point in the Mutua Madrid Masters first round against Fabio Fognini.
Tomic later told his post-match news conference: “I don’t care about that match point. Would you care if you were 23 and worth over 10 million dollars?”
It prompted Australia’s Olympic chef de mission Kitty Chiller to call his behavior in Madrid “appalling.”
Tomic then lasted just eight minutes in his opening clash at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, retiring after a medical timeout when leading Frenchman Benoit Paire 2-1, saying he had been “feeling bad all night.”
His withdrawal from Rio contention has potentially helped the committee dodge a difficult decision.
“It’s his choice. We don’t force anyone to take part in the Olympic Games,” Chiller told reporters. “We only want people in our team who want to be there and are prepared to abide by what that team means.”
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