Bernard Tomic responds to dropped match-fixing probe as he battles at Brisbane Challenger

Bernard Tomic is shrugging off two of his matches being investigated by a police probe into possible match-fixing, that was ultimately dropped, to focus on returning to the top 100. RARE INTERVIEW

Bernard Tomic is shrugging off revelations two of his matches were investigated by a police probe into possible match-fixing - that was ultimately dropped - to set his sights on a return to the world’s top 100.

After two years of humble grinding on the desolate backcourts of the professional tennis tour, the Gold Coast former prodigy is into the quarter finals of the latest Challenger event, the Brisbane QTC Tennis International, and has opened up about his playing future.

Tomic beat fellow Aussie Jason Kubler - a former world number 63 also on the comeback trail - in a gruelling near three-hour, three-set clash 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 on court 6 at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Wednesday.

Speaking afterwards in a rare interview, Tomic - who has surged from a lowly 825 to the top 200 in two years - said he not only still believes he can crack the top 100 again, but has his sights on more grand slam appearances, namely his favoured Wimbledon.

Bernard Tomic during his near three-hour grind against Jason Kubler at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International, at Tennyson, on Wednesday. He believes he can return to the top 100: “If I get myself in qualies for Wimbledon and have a good run, it’s somewhere where I’ve qualified and made (a) quarter.” Picture: Steve Pohlner

“I didn’t play a lot of tennis for three or four years, at 25, 26 I hit a brick wall mentally and didn’t want to travel to play,” Tomic reflected.

“I was going through the motions, it took me a couple of years after Covid to get fit and play matches again. You lose two or three years, you need two years to get back, you’re not 20 years old anymore.”

With Tomic’s ranking at 220, a run in Brisbane this week would see him well placed to reach further Grand Slam qualifiers after flaming out in the Australian Open qualifying first round. He noted when he famously reached the Wimbledon quarter finals in 2011 as an 18-year-old - the youngest person to do so since three-time champion Boris Becker - he did it from qualifiers.

Bernard Tomic's girlfriend Keely Hannah watches on during his three-set battle against fellow Aussie on the comeback trail Jason Kubler. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“If I get myself in qualies for Wimbledon and have a good run, it’s somewhere where I’ve qualified and made (a) quarter,” Tomic said.

“To finish the year in the top 100 would be great. We’ll see how we go. A lot has changed in tennis - my expectations can’t be too high. I have to be realistic. You have to work for it.”

Asked what motivated him to keep playing, he said: “That’s a tough one, tennis doesn’t do it for me. It keeps me alive, keeps me sane, gives me something to do. Without tennis you lose your purpose.

“I’m trying to figure it out, get back.”

Bernard Tomic playing in Brisbane at a Challenger event on Wednesday: “I’m trying to figure it out, get back.” Photo: Steve Pohlner

The lower-level professional tournaments Tomic has become accustomed to - often with a handful of spectators and players collecting their own balls - are a far cry from the biggest stages he has played on but somewhere he finds solace.

“Yeah for sure. I enjoyed it, I shut off,” Tomic said. “I was sick and tired of that bullshit and just wanted to get away and be normal, travelling got to me. Tennis is a very lonely sport, very isolated sport.

“After I chilled out and did my own thing and took my time to get back, I felt pretty good the last couple of years, but you need time and matches.”

Bernard Tomic poses for a selfie with a fan in Brisbane after his match on Wednesday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Asked about the historic probe by police into possible match-fixing of games he was involved in that ended after failing to produce enough evidence for criminal charges, Tomic said: “I’m not gonna comment about that.”

A multi-agency police taskforce had been put together to investigate suspicious wagering on two matches involving the former world No. 17 after online bookmakers flagged a number of suspicious bets on Tomic’s match with Russian player Roman Safiullin during the Australian Open in 2022, and a match months earlier in Turkey. During the probe the International Tennis Integrity Agency seized his phone and questioned him.

Next up in Brisbane Tomic will face fellow Australian Adam Walton, who is ranked 87th and is in fine form.

Originally published as Bernard Tomic responds to dropped match-fixing probe as he battles at Brisbane Challenger