Nick Kyrgios defends Bernard Tomic’s right to distance himself from tennis

NICK Kyrgios has leapt to the defence of his “sometimes” friend, Bernard Tomic, saying people should respect his Davis Cup teammate’s right to distance himself from tennis.

Kyrgios and Tomic have had a rocky relationship. Picture: Dylan Robinson

BERNARD Tomic still has one entry in play - for qualifying at a tournament in North Carolina - before the US Open starts late this month.

Tomic’s motivations to return to return to the tennis tour after a post-Wimbledon break are not clear, with Nick Kyrgios saying this week that he respects that Tomic “doesn’t really know what he wants to do’’.

Tomic, the former world No. 17, could not enter the ATP Montreal and Cincinnati qualifying fields because his ranking of No. 94 was not good enough - an indication of the dire straits his career is in.

Quiet, please. Kyrgios defends Tomic.

His name appears in qualifying entries for the smaller Winston-Salem, North Carolina tournament which starts on Monday week (Aug 21).

The US Open starts on August 28, and despite his rankings slide to No. 94 Tomic makes the main draw by about 10 places.

Tomic has not played since his Wimbledon exit after which he said he was bored with tennis and played the game only for money.

The Gold Coaster reportedly suffered from a foot injury early last month and did not play two smaller US tournaments he had entered.

Kyrgios said in Montreal earlier this week that his former Davis Cup teammate should take a break from the tour if he wants.

“He deserves every right to try to find what makes him happy,’’ Kyrgios said.

Kyrgios and Tomic have had a rocky relationship. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“If that’s not tennis at the moment, then so be it.

“Bernard is struggling at the moment. He doesn’t really know what he wants to do. I respect that.

“We’re not bad humans. We don’t, I don’t know, deal drugs ... we don’t do anything. We have some bad issues on the court sometimes. It’s just us competing.’’

Kyrgios’s extensive response was in marked contrast to a reply after Australia’s Davis Cup tie in April when he was asked if he had been in contact with Tomic this year. He restricted his answer to one word: “No.’’

Tomic said in a television interview last month that he expected his motivation to play tennis more seriously would return in coming weeks.

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios defends Bernard Tomic’s right to distance himself from tennis