Bernard Tomic to ask Wimbledon to ease ban on father, John Tomic

BERNARD Tomic will ask Wimbledon to ease the ban on his father after he followed up a first-round win with an extraordinary attack on tour officials.

BERNARD Tomic will approach the All England Club to request an easing of the ban on his father's presence in the grounds of SW19 after he overcame a dizzy spell to make the second round of Wimbledon.

The 20-year-old Australian, who beat Sam Querrey, of the US, in five sets overnight after throwing away a two-set lead, described how difficult it was to perform at the tournament without the courtside support of his father, John, who is also his coach.

Tomic Sr is barred from tournaments under an ATP directive as he awaits trial for allegedly headbutting his son's hitting partner.

He has been charged with assaulting Thomas Drouet before the Mutua Madrid Open and will appear in a Spanish court in October. He denies the charge, claiming that he acted in self-defence.

Tomic condemned the decision by the ATP to bar his father from Wimbledon, even as a spectator, which he says was arrived at in a 30-second telephone call that did not investigate all the facts.

"You should resolve something like this face to face," he said. "I think you meet with the person."

He added that he would ask the tournament organisers for a relaxation of the ban and does not blame them.

"It's all the ATP's fault," he said. "All of a sudden not to have someone there who's been there for your whole life is very difficult. It's not a good feeling."

After a strong start, winning two tie-break sets, Tomic's game fell apart as he appeared to struggle with his energy levels.

After calling for the doctor and taking a pill "to cool him down", although the outside temperature was only 20C, the Australian went on to take the fifth set 6-3.

He denied gamesmanship against big-serving Querrey, who blasted 36 aces, blaming an inadequate breakfast.

He will now play James Blake of the US.

"I felt very bad out there," Tomic said.

"I lost my energy and I think that was due to I didn't eat as much in the morning.

"Lucky, somehow I won. Nightmare.

"He has to put himself in my shoes if he was feeling bad.

"At that time I was doing the best thing to make myself feel as good as I can on the court."

After the Australian won two tight sets, the momentum swung Querrey's way in the third and Tomic's declining health allowed him to quickly square up the match.

Tomic admitted "not trying as much" in a bid to save his energy but said he never considered giving up.

The tactic paid off as Tomic lifted again in the last set, securing the crucial break at 4-3 up with a succession of brilliant winners and then serving out the match.

The Times