Australia’s Bernard Tomic is unlikely to feature in the upcoming Davis Cup after pledging to focus solely on his recent lacklustre form.
On Monday the former top-20 player crashed out in the first round at the Monte Carlo Masters. Facing Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, Tomic squandered a 5-3 lead in the second set as he went out 6-1, 7-6(3). The 24-year-old has now suffered five consecutive first-round defeats on the tour and hasn’t won a match since the Australian Open.
In the midst of a slump, Tomic has finally addressed his Davis Cup plans. Already missing two ties for his country earlier this year, the world No.43 showed little enthusiasm about their September clash. Australia will play Belgium in September for a place in their first Davis Cup final for a decade.
“Don’t get me wrong, Davis Cup is an amazing event and it’s a huge thing for us in Australia, but it’s not my priority right now,” Tomic told AAP.
“My priority now is getting into the top 10, back to the top 20 in the world, so I have to work hard, and once I settle myself, I can think more about playing Davis Cup.
“I played so much Davis Cup in my life that it’s just something that I’m not motivated for.”
Tomic has a chance of reviving his game during the clay-court swing of the tour. He has few points to defend over the upcoming weeks after winning just one match on the surface in 2016. The opportunity is easier said than done for a player who has struggled on the European dirt. So far in his career, Tomic is yet to reach a clay-court final and has never past the second round at the French Open.
“It’s an opportunity,” said Tomic.
“I’m 43 in the world so I feel I need to try to win some matches over the next five, six weeks, get back into the top 30 and be a comfortable seeding (for Wimbledon) and be seeded for the grass events.
“That’s where I can do some damage, but my main priority is to win a match.”
A decent performance over the next six weeks will set Tomic in good stride for one of his favourite times of the season, the grass-court swing. A former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, Tomic is eager to return to his winning ways on the grass.
“I feel so much better on grass. Last year I had a fourth-round chance, lost 10-8 in the fifth, to make quarters again.” He said. “Clay builds you up and gets me ready for the grass, so every match I can win on clay is a plus.”
Chasing after his third win of the season, the Australian is scheduled to play in four consecutive tournaments prior to the French Open. His next test will occur at the Barcelona Open followed by Istanbul, Madrid and Rome.
