OK, can someone kill me right now, please? :banghead::explode:
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news/article/-/15566464/i-can-be-the-best-player-ever-tomic/
Bernard Tomic has brushed aside his reported axing from Australia’s Davis Cup side and claimed he can be the best tennis player of all time.
Tomic strongly denies he was dumped by Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter due to behavioral issues, saying he never made himself available.
"I was never meant to play that tie," Tomic said.
"I'm going to use that time to train to prepare for tournaments in America.
"I spoke to Pat and told him I would miss the first one and maybe the second one ... I was never meant to play, I told Pat that."
The world No.52 says he is getting his career back on track.
"I'm young and I'm learning. You get to a point where you need to stop and I think it's a good bit of advice," said Tomic.
"I'm working really hard and trying to push myself to become the best tennis player I can be.
"I've had a slippery slope the last year. It's changing me and I'll prove I'm going to be the best-ever player one day to play this game."
Tennis Australia director of tennis Craig Tiley was quoted on Thursday as saying Rafter won't consider Tomic for the tie against Taiwan while questioning the 20-year-old's commitment to representing his country.
Australia's most recent grand slam winner, Sam Stosur, believes it's time for Tomic to "knuckle down" if he's going to have any chance of fulfilling his enormous potential.
When asked what advice she would give the under-fire Tomic, Stosur said he must ask himself some tough questions if he's going to bounce back from a dismal end to the year when his ranking slid from No.27 in June to No.52.
"What are you doing? Are you wanting to play tennis?," Stosur queried in Sydney.
"If you are, then give it 100 per cent because you only get one crack at it.
"He's going to have to decide what he wants to do and how he's going to approach his career.
"Until that improves in a lot of people's eyes, he's going to have to deal with things like being dropped out of the Davis Cup team."
Stosur added it would be unfortunate to witness Tomic's undoubted talent go to waste.
"That's probably the most disappointing thing for a lot of people on the outside - that he's got this unbelievable tennis ability and he's not really using it at the moment," said the 28-year-old world No.9.
"So I think everyone would like to see him knuckle down and do his best and see where that gets him."
Tomic responded positively to the words of wisdom from the 2011 US Open champion, who is about to head into her 14th year on the WTA tour.
Tomic will get the chance to start proving the doubters wrong when he represents Australia at the Hopman Cup in Perth later this month.
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news/article/-/15566464/i-can-be-the-best-player-ever-tomic/
Bernard Tomic has brushed aside his reported axing from Australia’s Davis Cup side and claimed he can be the best tennis player of all time.
Tomic strongly denies he was dumped by Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter due to behavioral issues, saying he never made himself available.
"I was never meant to play that tie," Tomic said.
"I'm going to use that time to train to prepare for tournaments in America.
"I spoke to Pat and told him I would miss the first one and maybe the second one ... I was never meant to play, I told Pat that."
The world No.52 says he is getting his career back on track.
"I'm young and I'm learning. You get to a point where you need to stop and I think it's a good bit of advice," said Tomic.
"I'm working really hard and trying to push myself to become the best tennis player I can be.
"I've had a slippery slope the last year. It's changing me and I'll prove I'm going to be the best-ever player one day to play this game."
Tennis Australia director of tennis Craig Tiley was quoted on Thursday as saying Rafter won't consider Tomic for the tie against Taiwan while questioning the 20-year-old's commitment to representing his country.
Australia's most recent grand slam winner, Sam Stosur, believes it's time for Tomic to "knuckle down" if he's going to have any chance of fulfilling his enormous potential.
When asked what advice she would give the under-fire Tomic, Stosur said he must ask himself some tough questions if he's going to bounce back from a dismal end to the year when his ranking slid from No.27 in June to No.52.
"What are you doing? Are you wanting to play tennis?," Stosur queried in Sydney.
"If you are, then give it 100 per cent because you only get one crack at it.
"He's going to have to decide what he wants to do and how he's going to approach his career.
"Until that improves in a lot of people's eyes, he's going to have to deal with things like being dropped out of the Davis Cup team."
Stosur added it would be unfortunate to witness Tomic's undoubted talent go to waste.
"That's probably the most disappointing thing for a lot of people on the outside - that he's got this unbelievable tennis ability and he's not really using it at the moment," said the 28-year-old world No.9.
"So I think everyone would like to see him knuckle down and do his best and see where that gets him."
Tomic responded positively to the words of wisdom from the 2011 US Open champion, who is about to head into her 14th year on the WTA tour.
Tomic will get the chance to start proving the doubters wrong when he represents Australia at the Hopman Cup in Perth later this month.