Murray, Djokovic Differ On Tomic Case

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Murray, Djokovic Differ On Tomic Case

Head racquet endorsers Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have disparate reactions to the brand’s decision to drop Bernard Tomic after he was hit with a $15,000 fine for his apathetic Wimbledon performance.

World No. 1 Murray called Head’s move “a bit harsh”, while Djokovic, who is Tomic’s friend and sometime practice partner, called the brand’s decision “understandable.”

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The 24-year-old Australian was hit with a $15,000 fine by the International Tennis Federation after admitting he called for a medical timeout as a tactical ploy and was "bored" during his Wimbledon straight-sets loss to Mischa Zverev in the opening round.

“I mean, it's a pretty difficult one,” Murray said of Tomic’s case. “Obviously you're being honest, which is a good thing. But if you're saying you're taking injury timeouts and stuff purely, you know, to try and throw the opponent's rhythm off, to use it tactically, that isn't good. Something has to happen with that. That's breaking the rules intentionally. I'm not saying he's the only player that does it. But if you go and say that, obviously you're going to get fined.”

Murray said if Head dropped Tomic based on this one incident “then that’s a bit harsh”, but was uncertain if Head had objected to any of Tomic’s previous issues, which earned him the nickname “Tomic the Tank Engine” for his habit of tanking some matches.

“With Head, obviously it's a tough one” Murray said. “I don't know what's maybe happened with them in the past potentially. If that's the first time he's done something like that or said something that they found unprofessional, something they can't support, then that's a bit harsh. But I don't know if they've had previous, which is possible, over the last few years.

“Yeah, it's up to them.”

Head announced it has dropped Tomic from its player roster saying the Aussie's "opinions in no way reflect our own attitude for tennis, our passion, professionalism and respect for the game."

"We were extremely disappointed with the statements made at Wimbledon by one of our sponsored athletes, Bernard Tomic," Head said in a statement. "His opinions in no way reflect our own attitude for tennis, our passion, professionalism and respect for the game. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue our collaboration with Bernard Tomic."

While Djokovic said he can relate to the emotional ups and downs Tomic is enduring, Head’s decision is “understandable…because it’s not the right message (for Tomic) to send.”

“I generally try to understand people and why they take certain actions or words and we all are humans. We all have our flaws,” Djokovic said. “We all, in the heat of the moment, maybe say some things that are not appropriate maybe, by definition of someone, or something.

“But again, it's understandable, in a way, why Head has reacted in this way. Because it's not the right message to send out there from one of the most talented players that has played a game in last, you know, six, seven years, and someone that, you know, he is a hero to many children, especially in Australia. Everybody looking up to him and him making these comments, I understand that perspective.

“I also, I have to, you know, because I'm on the tour, I play tennis, I understand the ups and downs that you experience as a player, understand the emotions that you go through, and it's not easy. It's not easy."

Djokovic said Tomic should understand it's a privilege to play on the pro circuit.

"There are tougher things in life. Absolutely," Djokovic said. "We have to be very grateful for the kind of lifestyle we have and to be given an opportunity to play a sport that we love. You know, for him, it's different now. He's going through a tough stage, and you have to kind of understand it and support it."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

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