Bernard Tomic's tennis career was born at the bottom of a car trunk. At the age of 15, Tomic is still a few years removed from earning a driver's license, but on court he's already going places in a hurry.
The Australian sensation made history last weekend when he beat Brazil's Jose Pereira, 6-2, 7-5, to capture the Boys' 16s singles title at the 61st Annual Dunlop Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne. Tomic became the first junior boy in history to claim three Orange Bowl crowns in three different age groups: he won the boys' 12s title in 2004 and the boys' 14s title in 2006. He's aiming to add the boys' 18s title to his ever-expanding Orange Bowl trophy collection next year.
"To win three Orange Bowls is a fantastic effort," Tomic told Tennis Week contributing writer Joshua Rey shortly after winning his title. "One more would be nice, but we'll see how it goes next year and I'll have another two shots at it."
The 23rd-ranked Tomic, who celebrated his 15th birthday on October 21, is the youngest boy ranked inside the top 25 of the International Tennis Federation's Junior rankings.
"He's very talented, there's no question about that," Australian Hall of Famer and television analyst Fred Stolle told Tennis Week. "The question is maturity and how will he mature as he grows?"
The maturation process was accelerated a bit after Tomic turned in a less-than-enthusiastic effort at the Junior French Open where he lost to current ITF No. 1, Ricardas Berankis, 6-2, 6-3. Tennis Australia officials reportedly reprimanded the teen for the lethargic second-round effort and he has responded.
He did not play the Wimbledon juniors, but returned to win the Oceania Junior Championships then reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Open Junior Championships falling to current World No. 12 Jerzy Janowicz of Poland.
It's been 38 years since Rod Laver was the last Australian man to reign at Roland Garros, but if you're convinced Australians are destined to remain clay-court challenged think again. The Aussies pulled off an audacious clay-court championship sweep in claiming both the junior Davis Cup and junior Fed Cup championships on the red clay of Circolo de Tennis Reggio Emilio in Italy in September and Tomic helped lead the charge.
The prestigious doubles comes 20 years after Australia collected both of the 16-and-under junior team championships.
The Australian boys’ team, led by 16-year-old Mark Verryth and the then 14-year-old prodigy Tomic, defeated traditional clay-court power Argentina, 2-0, in the junior Davis Cup final.Verryth, who did not surrender a set in the event, beat Guido Andreozzi, 6-3, 6-3, to open the final before Tomic clinched the Cup with a 6-4, 6-3, win over Kevin Konfederak. Australia’s boys also won the 14 & under ITF team competition, the World Junior Tennis finals, in Prostejov in August of this year, so Australian teams have now won three of the four ITF international junior team competitions in the 2007 season, giving a nation that currently has only three top 100 players — Lleyton Hewitt, Peter Luczak and Chris Guccione - hope for the future.
A 50-cent investment Tomic's father and coach, John Tomic, made eight years ago has paid deep dividends in setting his son on a rewarding tennis path. Bernard won the first tournament he ever entered and has continued his ascent ever since.
"My father bought me a tennis racquet from a car boot [trunk] sale when I was 7 for 50 cents and since then I just took to it and have loved the game ever since," Tomic remembers. "Still have the racquet. It was so natural for me from the beginning. I remember my first tournament even now. I won and since then I've never looked back."
Tomic's backhand, which is as versatile as a Swiss Army Knife, his shrewd court sense and a serve that is much more imposing than his size would suggest form the foundation of his game. He describes himself as an all-court player, who has studied the game's greats in building his own game.
"I feel I have a good sense of the court," Tomic says. "I always said if I could pick [among favorite players] I would have the serve of Goran Ivanisevic, the shots of Sampras, heart of Hewitt and the movement of Roger."
And while he continues to collect the distinctive Orange-filled title trophies, Tomic's ultimate aim is nothing short that reaching the top of tennis.
"[My goal] is to be number one in the world. I know it's going to be a very tough journey, but I'm committed to try and reach this goal," Tomic says. "Got to reach for the stars right?"
Tennis Week caught up with Tomic for this interview.
Tennis Week: How does it feel to win your third consecutive Orange Bowl title and was there any one match or moment in the tournament that stands out for you as particularly important or exciting?
Bernard Tomic: It's great. I'm so happy to have won three in a row; it's a dream come true. Nobody has ever done this so it's an added bonus and it means perhaps more to me then winning some of my other titles. Closing out the match was the most exciting as I could not wait to get my hands on the trophy
Tennis Week: You're only 15 years old while facing juniors who are older, bigger and in some cases, stronger. How do you compensate for the size, strength, age and experience disparity?
Bernard Tomic: It's actually great: sometimes as I go out there and the pressure is on the other guy on the other side of the net. There are no expectations on me at this age. If I get to the quarterfinal round great if not then I'm only 15. I try to immediately assess their weakness from the get go and play to my advantages.
Tennis Week: How would you describe your style, what are the strengths of your game? What player(s) did you look up to growing up?
Bernard Tomic: I think I'm an all-round player. I feel I have a good sense of the court. I always said if I could pick [among favorite players] I would have the serve of Goran Ivanisevic, the shots of Sampras, heart of Hewitt and the movement of Roger.
Tennis Week: What do you do for fun and to relax outside of tennis?
Bernard Tomic: As all 15 year olds, I love play station and out of the house I love fishing with my father and friends.
Tennis Week: What is your goal in tennis?
Bernard Tomic: To be number one in the world. I know it's going to be a very tough journey, but I'm committed to try and reach this goal. Got to reach for the stars right?
Tennis Week: Do you have any ritual or routine - like listening to music, etc. - that you do right before you go out to play?
Bernard Tomic: Not really. I'm not very superstitious. My dad who is my coach just gives me a quick talk and then I'm on.
Tennis Week: How did you initially get involved in tennis? Were you immediately pretty good? Do you remember your first match or tournament?
Bernard Tomic: My father bought me a tennis racquet from a car boot [trunk] sale when I was 7 for 50 cents and since then I just took to it and have loved the game ever since. Still have the racquet. It was so natural for me from the beginning. I remember my first tournament even now. I won and since then I've never looked back.
Tennis Week: How did your family and friends react when you won Orange Bowl again?
Bernard Tomic: They were so happy for me. My father who is my coach and Sean Fyfe who is my trainer were super happy. Spoke to my mother on the phone immediately - sadly she was sleeping because of the time difference - but I got her on the phone later. They thought I was kidding. Glad to be back home now with my family and friends.
Tennis Week: Will you be playing Australian Open juniors? What did it mean to win the junior Davis Cup?
Bernard Tomic: Definitely playing Oz juniors. Looking forward to it as it is one of my favorites. Always playing for my country is huge. I am so proud to have been selected to play and we played great and happened to win the Davis Cup juniors this year. It's been an all-round great year for Australian Tennis.
Tennis Week: What would people be most surprised to know about you?
Bernard Tomic: I still love my mother's cooking and I can't wait to come home every trip to get home to her cooking.I'm still obviously a mummy's boy!!!
