Archive for: australian open 2009

Bernard Tomic To Make Attack on ATP Tour If Possible

The reigning Australian Open junior champion is eligible to spend another two years bolstering his already impressive age record, if he wants to.

But, after mixing junior and senior events in roughly equal measure in 2008, the talented Gold Coast teenager would prefer to speed up his development by committing fully to the men’s circuit next year.

“I’ve started this year to play more and more (open) Futures and Challengers, but then again I’ve played also juniors,” German-born Tomic said.

“I think it’s time to put juniors away next year hopefully and just focus on Challenger level and Futures and getting my ranking up to where I want it to be.”

Tomic is the junior world No.3, with the two players ranked above him both about 18 months older.

In the senior rankings, he is 772.

While he hopes to steadily cut that number, he needs to rely on the generosity of officials if he is to play in ATP events or senior grand slams.

His chief aims for the coming summer are to make his ATP debut at the Brisbane International, starting January 4, and then play in the Australian Open later that month.

He will need wildcards for both, a prospect that remains uncertain, particularly given Tennis Australia’s recent emphasis on awarding wildcards on a merit basis, with Tomic only the 26th-ranked Australian man.

Ball Kids Lose Out at Australian Open Next Year. Is This Why Players Get More Prizemoney?

From January, they will be denied the miserly per diem of $42 a match awarded for fetching balls, handling the sweat-laden towels and, perhaps, verbal serves from surly stars.

In place will be a gift package from the Open sponsors, although Tennis Australia was adamant it would match and possibly exceed what the kids could normally expect to earn in pocket-money.

The $20 daily allowance has been cut to an $8 snack package – about the cost of a sandwich in the player and media restaurant last year – but will also receive a lunch-pack that will compensate for the reduction, a spokesman said.