Bernard Tomic hits out at Australian public

BERNARD Tomic’s dad has called out his behaviour, saying he’s “ashamed” at how he is approaching his business.

Tomic was brutally honest after his round one Wimbledon loss. Picture: AFP

• Andrew Bolt: Tomic’s honesty is brutally modern
• Outrage at ‘bored’ tennis brat Tomic

BERNARD Tomic has savaged the Australian public in another extraordinary outburst, saying he’s rich and doesn’t care if people don’t like him.

Tomic has endured a week of criticism following his outburst after his first round loss at Wimbledon, but he has again hit out.

“You probably don’t like me but, at only 24, you guys can only dream about having what I have at 24,” he said in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Herald Sun.

“End of the day, don’t like me or whatever. Just go back dreaming about your dream car or house while I go buy them.”

But now even Tomic’s dad John has called out his behaviour, saying he was “ashamed” of his son.

Tomic was brutally honest after his round one Wimbledon loss. Picture: AFP

Mr Tomic, who in 2013 copped a 12-month ban from the tennis tour for assaulting a hitting partner during a tumultuous period coaching Bernard, said his son’s behaviour at Wimbledon showed a lack of respect.

“He’s my son, I love him, but I’m ashamed at how he’s approaching his business — it’s not good what he’s doing,” the former taxi driver said.

“I do not support such behaviour, especially at (a) unique grand slam like Wimbledon. You have to have respect and follow the rules, you have to work hard. You have to put in 100 per cent and challenge yourself.”

But Tomic senior said he was disappointed with tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Pat Cash who had slammed his son.

Tomic reacts in his first round Wimbledon loss. Picture: AFP

John Tomic says he’s ashamed at his son’s approach to the sport. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“There are lot of haters and sharks, legends of tennis, who want to destroy Bernard,” he said.

Mr Tomic said his son, with career prizemoney earnings of almost $7 million including $450,000 this year already, had become “a little bit” too comfortable with his “easy life”.

The world No. 59 has homes around the world and last year bought a $430,000 yellow Lamborghini.

Tomic was fined almost $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after confessing he faked an injury during his first round exit at Wimbledon and then said he was bored with tennis in his post-match press conference.

He was subsequently dumped by his sponsor, racquet manufacturer Head.

But Tomic, now on holiday in the US, is sticking to his guns.

“I worked 10 hours a day with my father, having no money in our life from the age of eight to 15,” he said.

“We were driving a $500 car to now having millions and earning millions at 24, having houses all over the world.”

[e-mail]