Bernard Tomic

Bernard Tomic – Life, Career, and Remarks

Bernard Tomic (born 21 October 1992) is an Australian tennis player of Croatian/Bosnian descent. Learn about his rise through junior success, professional career highlights, controversies, style, and notable statements.

Introduction

Bernard Tomic (born 21 October 1992) is an Australian professional tennis player known for his talent, unpredictability, and off-court controversies.

At his peak, he reached World No. 17 in the ATP singles rankings and won four ATP singles titles.

Tomic’s story is one of early promise, dramatic ups and downs, and ongoing efforts at resurgence.

Early Life and Family

Bernard Tomic was born in Stuttgart, Germany on 21 October 1992.

His parents, John (Ivica) Tomic (Croatian heritage) and Adisa (Bosnian heritage), were living in Germany at the time.

When Bernard was about three years old, his family relocated to the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

He has a younger sister, Sara Tomic, who also competed in tennis professionally.

Bernard’s early schooling included attending Southport State School in his primary years, followed by a sports scholarship at The Southport School for high school.

Junior Career & Breakthrough

Tomic’s junior career was distinguished and marked by rapid results:

• He won the Orange Bowl in both the U12 and U14 categories (2004, 2006).

• In 2008, as a teenager, he won the Australian Open boys’ singles title, becoming one of the youngest ever to do so.

• In 2009, he also captured the US Open boys’ singles title.

These successes created high expectations for his transition to the professional circuit.

Professional Career & Highlights

Turning Pro & Early Years

Bernard Tomic officially turned pro in 2008.

In his early career, he slowly climbed the rankings, reaching various ITF and Challenger tournaments as stepping stones.

Career Highs & Major Results

• Tomic has won four ATP singles titles:
  • 2013 Sydney International • 2014 and 2015 Colombia Open (Bogotá) • 2018 Chengdu Open

• His highest singles ranking was World No. 17, achieved in January 2016.

• Grand Slam successes:
  • Wimbledon Quarterfinal in 2011 – one of his best major runs. • Reached 4th round in Australian Open (2012, 2015, 2016) • Reached 3rd round in US Open (2015) • French Open best result: 2nd round (various years)

• In Masters / high-tier events, he made quarterfinals in Indian Wells and Shanghai (2015) among other runs.

• In Davis Cup play, he debuted for Australia in 2010 and helped the country in various ties.

Declines, Controversies & Attempts at Return

Over time, Tomic’s career was marked by swings: form drops, controversies, injuries, and complaints of motivation.

He has been publicly criticized for alleged “tanking” (deliberately underperforming), conflicts with officials, and erratic behavior.

In recent years he has attempted comebacks, participating in lower-tier events (Challengers, Futures) to regain ranking and form.

A notable recent result: in June 2025, Tomic earned his first ATP main-draw victory since 2021, defeating compatriot Rinky Hijikata in Mallorca.

He has also been subject to a match-fixing/match integrity probe concerning two matches (one in 2022) and linked betting irregularities.

Playing Style, Strengths & Weaknesses

Bernard Tomic is right-handed with a two-handed backhand.

Strengths:

• Tactical shot variation and the ability to use subtle spins and slices to create disruption.

• Mental flexibility in points—he sometimes changes pace unexpectedly.

• Good reach (his height is around 1.96 m) which aids his court coverage and serve angle.

Weaknesses / Criticisms:

• Inconsistency and periods of low effort have been a recurrent theme in his career.

• Physical fitness and stamina issues, especially in long best-of-five matches.

• Mental battles and public distractions have sometimes overshadowed pure tennis performance.

Notable Quotes & Remarks

While Tomic is not known for a large catalog of famous quotations, some remarks reflect his views and the controversies he’s been involved in:

“That’s how I play — I always try to do something different.”

He has also made candid statements in press conferences that have been controversial, such as remarks implying he was bored in tournaments or questioning the integrity or strictness of officials.

Tomic has also spoken about the pressures of expectations, and how dealing with mental and emotional challenges has been part of his journey.

Lessons & Observations

From Bernard Tomic’s life and career, several reflections emerge:

• Talent is not enough: Early success does not guarantee sustained performance unless paired with work ethic, consistency, and mental resilience.

• Managing expectations and pressure: Being viewed as a prodigy brings high burdens; how one handles scrutiny matters.

• Reinvention and persistence: Even after periods of decline, he’s shown a willingness to rebuild from the lower circuits.

• Public scrutiny and responsibility: Behavior, statements, and professional conduct shape legacy almost as much as on-court achievements.

Conclusion

Bernard Tomic embodies both promise and paradox in modern tennis—a gifted player whose career has been punctuated with brilliance, controversy, and struggle. From his junior triumphs to his highest ranking at No. 17, and into his ongoing fight to return, his path is uneven but intriguing.