Tomic: "If I'd been a professional, I might have won a Grand Slam".
Bernard Tomic has had a fairly consistent year in 2024, despite a ranking below his predicted talent (currently 214th).
His best performances were two Futures titles and a Challenger final (lost in 39 minutes).
Retired John Millman praised Tomic's efforts: "What an effort on Bernie's part to come back. To go out there and play Futures and Challengers like he did, that's huge.
They're really unglamorous tournaments. I think sometimes he's had to face difficulties, and he's managed to pull through."
Earlier in the year, Tomic had declared that he had matured: "Of course, I've changed a lot. I've matured a bit more. It's had a positive impact on my game.
If I'd known these things when I was 20, if I'd been professional and done everything that was asked of me, I might have been able to win a Grand Slam."
Currently preparing for the tour of Australia in January, he would like a wild card to play the Brisbane tournament.
Tournament director Cam Pearson said it would be "quite difficult to give him one". Tomic's relationship with the Australian Tennis Federation has never been a happy one.
This is due in particular to the Australian's recurrent controversial comments about his federation, and also an altercation with his Davis Cup captain, Lleyton Hewitt.
