After a blistering tirade in which he attacked beloved Australian tennis star Pat Rafter, Bernard Tomic has been dumped from the Davis Cup team by Tennis Australia.
In a 10-minute rant during a post-match press conference at Wimbledon on Friday, the 22-year-old accused the Australian tennis governing body of disrespect and mismanagement.
He also went after retired tennis great Pat Rafter, Tennis Australia's new director of performance, saying he was incompetent. According to the Herald Sun, Tomic said his dispute with Rafter had gotten so bad he was made to pay for things like court hire and balls.
"Where's the support towards me and my family?" he asked. "How much money have they made on me ... the last three, four years and you've got to pay for your court? Where's the respect? It's not about the money."
The player's comments were not received well on social media, with many accusing him of being spoilt and unsportsmanlike.
Bernard Tomic is one of the most unlikeable and ungrateful sportsman we have ever had. Well done @TennisAustralia— Matthew Head (@MattHead16) July 4, 2015
Bernard Tomic. You have to EARN respect— Prue MacSween (@pruemacsween) July 4, 2015
@TennisAustralia good decision re #Tomic. While hes talented Ive never liked his sense of entitlement or bad attitude. Wasted opportunity— Knight Me TA (@Bieberz1nOnly) July 4, 2015
Tennis Australia quickly pushed back against Tomic's comments on Twitter, and after an ultimatum was apparently given to Tomic to apologise, the newspaper reported, he was unceremoniously dumped from the team Sunday.
Bernard #Tomic post-match allegations about TA were misinformed, untrue & disappointing— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) July 4, 2015
"His behaviour was unacceptable," Tennis Australia President Steve Healy said in a statement. "Playing for our country is an absolute privilege, and with that privilege comes an obligation to behave appropriately. He didn’t."
"The allegations are misinformed and untrue and he publicly derided some outstanding people. We are trying to build a strong culture underpinned by a philosophy of opportunity, not entitlement."
Breaking news: Bernard #Tomic will not be selected for @DavisCup QF in Darwin #CraigTiley #SteveHealy full story soon pic.twitter.com/w77QgpZcnh— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) July 4, 2015
The move means Tomic will miss the Davis Cup quarter-final tie against Kazakhstan in Darwin later in July.
It has not been a good week for Australia's young tennis stars. Nick Kyrgios was given a warning by officials when he bounced his racket into the crowd at Wimbledon Friday after missing a point, the Guardian reported. He was also reprimanded for arguing with an umpire and for muttering expletives on the court.