‘Once more chance’: Bernard Tomic reveals his biggest regrets as he mounts tennis comeback

After nearly giving up on tennis, troubled Aussie star Bernard Tomic is giving his career one last shot, saying he wants to “retire happy”.

Former Australian tennis star Bernard Tomic has opened up on his biggest regrets and revealed he is mounting a comeback in a bid to revive his career.

The 29-year-old is back training regularly, has hired a fitness coach and said he is determined to return to the top the sport.

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Tomic, who had a career-high ranking of world No. 17, is now ranked 254th in the world and played his last match in Kazakhstan in September, which he lost due to retirement.

After he lost at the Australian Open in 2018, Tomic famously told the media he would occupy his time by “counting my millions”.

He was also criticised for holding his racquet backwards on match point against Italy’s Fabio Fognini in 2016.

In an interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin, Tomic said he regrets a lot of “dumb s***” he has said and done over the years.

He surprised himself by winning three qualifying matches and his first round at the 2021 Australian Open, which he said ignited a “fire” inside him to return to tennis and finish off his career the right way.

“I was probably ready to stop (before that),” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“I don’t need money any more. But I started winning matches. I got a bit of fire going into me.”

Bernard Tomic is giving his tennis career one last chance. Picture Glenn Hamposon

Tomic revealed he came close to retiring a couple of years ago but has come full circle and is now “bored” without tennis in his life.

“I stopped playing two-and-a-half years ago. I went ‘I’m over it’. I had outside distractions,” he said.

“But I’m kind of bored of that too now to be honest.”

An older and wiser Tomic said he regrets many of his actions and comments in the media.

“I had too much success at a young age,” he said.

“Everything got to me. The travel, day in, day out tournaments. By age 25 I was tired and starting saying dumb s*** in the media.

“There are so many things I should not have said, should not have done. But I did.”

Now Tomic, who at the age of 18 became the youngest player since Boris Becker to make the Wimbledon quarterfinals, says he’s ready and committed to give his tennis career one last shot.

He is recovering from a finger ligament injury and has given himself a five-week preparation to regain his top form and be ready to contest qualifying for the Australian Open in January.

Bernard Tomic is back on the training court in preparation for his big comeback. Picture Glenn Hamposon

Tomic has also set himself the goal of making the top 10 in “two or three years”.

“I’m going to try and turn this around and give myself the best chance in the next couple of years. I’ve got one more chance at this. I’ll try and do it for myself,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“Now it’s all about getting it right and having a good crack at the next five or six years and trying to get back to the top.”

“I miss that sort of feeling.”