Bad boys Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have matured and turned a corner, Tennis Australia (TA) chief executive officer Craig Tiley said, after a season which is likely to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Both players endured turbulent years with on and off-court controversies, including brushes with officialdom and the law, overshadowing anything they did on court.
Despite being the nation’s top-ranked players, neither was considered as nominees for the prestigious Newcombe Medal — which rewards Australia’s “most outstanding elite tennis player and ambassador.”
However, Tiley said TA had mended its fences with the pair and he expects them to be on their best behavior at their home Grand Slam, the Australian Open, next month.
“I would love nothing more than both Bernie and Nick to have a great 2016, as we all would,” said Tiley, who is also tournament director of the season’s first major at Melbourne Park.
“There are no rifts; no animosity between Tennis Australia and those two guys,” he added.
During the past year Tomic clashed with TA and was suspended for a Davis Cup tie.
He was also arrested over a raucous penthouse party in Miami, while outspoken Kyrgios’ sex slur at Stan Wawrinka in August sparked stinging criticism from fellow players.
Tiley said he has had conversations with both players.
“We have got a good relationship with both of them, no question,” Tiley said.
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