Bernard Tomic on being vegan, OnlyFans regret, Kyrgios, Hewitt

Gold Coast tennis pro Bernard Tomic has revealed why he’s vegan, axed “partying” and believes he’s better than Nick Kyrgios, as the pair engage in cheeky banter.

Gold Coast tennis pro Bernard Tomic has revealed why he’s vegan, axed “partying”, believes he’s better than Nick Kyrgios and wants to patch up bad blood with Lleyton Hewitt.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr Tomic took to his Instagram and opened an “ask me anything” question box on his story for his followers to interact with.

The amusing and insightful session had him outline his strict new training routine, with him saying “anything to get back to the top”.

With freshly bleached hair, he answered his first questions regarding whether or not he would play in the Australian Open qualifiers.

A returning Bernard Tomic shares why he is vegan and why he stopped drinking as a part of his new training routine, saying ‘anything to get back to the top’.

He had earlier revealed to the Bulletin he surprised himself at the 2021 Australian Open by winning three qualifying matches and a main draw round after just five weeks training following seven months without touching a racquet. It had reignited the “fire” within him to compete again, he said last week.

On Tuesday he replied to his followers: “Yes, I’ll be playing the ‘qualies’ down in Melbourne. I have been training super hard and hopefully I’ll go better this time.”

He reshared a question asking ‘who was the hottest sibling in your family?’ and replied: “That’s the stupidest question ever.”

Amusingly, Tomic was then interrupted by his smiling younger sister Sara who danced across the screen and said “because it’s me”.

He briefly shared an answer referring to his cameo stint on Only Fans with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Sierra.

“Biggest. Regret. Of. My. Life,” he said holding his hand to his face.

A follower asked why Mr Tomic chose to be vegan.

A returning Bernard Tomic shares why he is vegan and why he stopped drinking as a part of his new training routine, saying ‘anything to get back to the top’.

“I have been vegan for about three years. (World number one) Novak (Djokovic) inspired me to do it. It feels good, you should try it,” he replied.

Tomic shared what his new training plan consists of and said he had ditched going out and drinking so he could get the best results.

“I’ve stopped partying and drinking. I wake up at 6am every morning. I run and do gym workouts and obviously tennis is involved. It’s not easy but I’ve got to do it. Anything to get back to the top.”

Asked if he felt he was a better player than Nick Kyrgios, Tomic said: “Obviously Nick is a good player, probably top six or seven servers in the world. Obviously beat him in Kooyong 6-3 6-4.

“Because I train with him I pick where he’s serving and I know where he’s at so that style doesn’t really bother me.”

Asked who was better in their prime, Tomic replied with a thumbs up and cheeky grin: “I still am.”

Kyrgios immediately hit back on his own Instagram disputing Tomic’s view - but offering plenty of encouragement to his former Davis Cup team mate.

Kyrgios said they’d played once at the Kooyong Classic, pointing out: “Where people play exhibitions - and yes he did beat me there once.

“But to say that he’s better? I have more titles. I don’t think he has any big scalp to his name, no Rafa, no Federer no Djokovic. To say that he’s better than me, it’s a bit of a stretch.

“But we all know what BT’s capable of and I wish him the best. I ain’t no jealous person, I want success for everyone - so BT, we know what you are capable of brother, let’s see it,” Kyrgios said.

Tomic, continuing his Q&A, responded to someone commenting on his new hair do, saying: “I’m glad you like it. Fresh cut, fresh start.”

Finally, asked for his thoughts on Davis Cup captain Lletyon Hewitt - with whom he has had verbal rows with in recent years - he said: “Would like to patch things up. He’s done a lot for the sport.”

DECEMBER 13

A RESURGENT Bernard Tomic vows nothing can stop him as he seeks to salvage his tennis career in a new training video, declaring his haters are now “fuel” for his comeback.

“I’ve had a lot of hate in my life. But I can’t give up. You don’t think I see the hate comments? It hurts,” he says in a new video on his Instagram.

GOLD COAST TENNIS STAR BERNARD TOMIC’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

A resurgent Bernard Tomic vows nothing can stop him as he seeks to salvage his tennis career in a new training video, declaring his haters are now “fuel” for his comeback.

As he sweats it out in the gym, doing weights, sprints and boxing drills to Fort Minor’s ‘Remember the Name’ as a soundtrack, he adds: “In the past I used to let it get to me and react out of stupidity. But now I’m using it as fuel.

“I’m back. I am,” he declares, sweating bullets dressed in a hoodie and long pants aimed at making his workouts more intense.

“I’m hungry, and I’m ready. No one can stop me now. But me. I’m training, I’m sweating, I’m pushing, I’m fired up,” he says in the video.

Bernard Tomic, sweating it out on the Gold Coast as he gets ready for the 2022 tennis season and his comeback.

“Whatever it takes to get back on top. Hard work pays off. I’ve put my blood sweat and tears into this sport.

“I have come back before. It’s time to set the record straight.”

It comes after he revealed exclusively to the Bulletin at the weekend that he all but checked out from the pro tennis tour for the past two years: “I just didn’t know where I was at.”

He also admitted he regretted a lot of things he had said and done in the past, including fobbing off reporters after an Australian Open qualifying loss one year by saying he was off to “count my millions”.

Bernard Tomic: “You don’t think I see the hate comments? It hurts.”

He noted: “I’m a bit older, a bit wiser. I’m not that stupid little kid anymore.”

The 29-year-old – who was once 17 in the world but is now 254 – also admitted he’d come close to quitting the game for good but rediscovered his “fire” after surprising himself by winning through three qualifying rounds into the 2021 Australian Open main draw.

He then won a round to make the last 64 despite having just a five-week build up after seven months without “touching a racquet”.

The Bulletin can also reveal he has a fitness trainer Andrew Martin, who has an army background. He also has hitting partners lined up on the Gold Coast for training on a private court and an unofficial coaching team that includes people who helped him get ready for the 2021 Australian Open.

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