This past weekend, the Wimbledon tournament was effectively overshadowed in the Australian media by reports of a ongoing stoush between Bernard Tomic and Tennis Australia.
The 22-year-old slammed them for negligence and gross incompetence during a fiery post-match press conference; they returned serve by dropping him the Australian Davis Cup team.
After news broke that Tomic had been ejected from the Davis Cup, there was some concern that rising star Nick Kyrgios might pull out as well, as he had previously said he would only play if his mate did.
Kyrgios, who clearly knows which side his bread is buttered on, took to Facebook overnight to ensure everybody that, in spite of Tomic’s axing, he still plans to play in the upcoming tie against Kazakhstan.
“As a proud Australian, it’s a pleasure and privilege to be able to represent my country in [the] Davis Cup,” he said. “As long as I’m able, fit and healthy, [it’s] an opportunity I will never pass up.”
Kyrgios has sailed through Wimbledon so far, but in spite of his skilful game, his on-court antics have drawn criticism, to the point where his agent yesterday asked the media to cut him some damn slack.
As a proud Australian it’s a pleasure and privilege to be able to represent my country in Davis Cup. As long as I’m able, fit and healthy, It’s an opportunity I will never pass up. #Darwin #DavisCup
Posted by Nick Kyrgios on Sunday, July 5, 2015
Over the weekend, Tomic criticised Tennis Australia for their lack of support, and claimed that veteran player Pat Rafter is incompetent in his current role of Director of Performance.
Many of his criticisms stemmed from the fact that he was made to pay for his own undercover court hire and balls in the lead-up to last year’s Brisbane International.
They responded yesterday, calling his comments “disparaging and disrespectful” and ruling him out of contention for the Davis Cup tie in Darwin on July 17-19.
Photo: Clive Brunskill via Getty Images
