A-Tomic weathers glare of spotlight
By Courtney Walsh
January 23, 2007
TEENAGE prodigy Bernard Tomic got an insight yesterday into just how desperate Australia is to find a new champion of the courts.
The Gold Coast 14-year-old, long touted as Australia's next baseline star, is no stranger to headlines, but even he seemed surprised at the hype generated by his debut Open appearance in the juniors event.
A crowd of almost 400 people watched him make light work of sixth seed Jose Roberto Velasco of Bolivia. On nearby courts, only a few fans watched former stars Pat Cash and Mark Woodforde creak around in a warm-up for the Legends tournament.
But it was the post-match press conference, a rarity in junior events, that was even more bewildering.
Tomic's five-minute chat was attended by 23 journalists, including a handful of international correspondents.
In contrast, Russian star Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former US Open champion and world No.3 on the senior Tour, was lonely discussing her loss on Sunday to just one reporter.
"I'm kind of (shocked by the interest)," Tomic said. "It is something to get used to. This is the first time I've done (anything) like this (but) I don't mind. It's a good way to express myself."
The spotlight was always going to be on Tomic, regardless of the failure of any of his senior colleagues to reach the second week.
That is what happens when you have your own Wikipedia (online encyclopaedia) entry and have already been signed by a leading sports marketing agency.
IMG pounced on the Nike-sponsored teen when he won his second Junior Orange Bowl in Florida, an event won by some handy players including Roger Federer, Tomic's tennis hero.
That is not to discount Lleyton Hewitt, on whom Tomic modelled his game as a pre-teen.
While the 181cm youngster, who has grown 8cm over the past year, showed many Hewitt traits yesterday, it was hard to glean just how promising he is.
Tomic did not exactly toy with Velasco, but he could have if he wished, such was the standard of the Bolivian's game.
The 17-year-old has played Davis Cup for his country but was obviously out of sorts yesterday, struggling badly before retiring hurt trailing 6-2 4-1.
Tomic, who displayed great touch at the net to go with a smooth baseline game, barely put a foot wrong in disregarding his opponent's malaise, but was not completely satisfied with the effort.
"I would probably say seven out of ten," Tomic said. "I was a bit shaky on my groundstrokes."
Tomic plays Frenchman Kevin Botti today, another opponent of whom he knows little. But he promised one thing.
"It is hard to say, but I am just going to go out there and play it game by game, point by point, hustle for each shot," he said.
"I want to go out there (today) and fight for every ball, like Lleyton does, and hopefully I can win."
With that attitude, he could go far.