Status: ATP #49.
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200
DOB: October 21, 1992 In: Stuttgart, Germany
First Tennis Memory: When I was young I picked up a racquet and started and have been playing ever since. I was probably eight. It was a physical, popular thing to play tennis, hit a ball. My first memory.
Tennis Inspirations: Roger and Rafa. Looking up to them the last five years has kickstarted me and made me want to play tennis. And I’m sure for a lot of people as well I think.
Last Book Read: Harry Potter [laughs]. Going back ages. But the Harry Potter were interesting to me and I think I managed to read the last four which is great [smiles].
Greatest Sports Moment: Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Most Painful Moment: [Smiles] Wimbledon quarterfinals (lost to Djokovic in four sets in 2011).
Favorite Tournament: I love Melbourne Park, the Australian Open. I love Wimbledon. And Miami is also really nice.
Which Match Did You Feel At Your Best: Probably the match I played Robin Soderling at Wimbledon in the third round.
Closest Tennis Friends: [Laughs] My dad, my team I think.
Funniest Player Encountered: (Sergiy) Stakhovsky is one. He’s a funny guy, nice and chilled back. He’s always in the locker room cracking jokes, he makes the players laugh. And a nice guy.
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: I’ve had a few quick round exits, like the U.S. Open.
Strangest Match: There’s been a few weird ones. I think when I played Alex (Dolgopolov) this year in the Australian Open third round, that was a bit weird for me. Big match for us both to play.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and cream.
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Basketball.
Three Athletes You Like To Watch And Follow: Michael Jordan. Usain Bolt. And Lionel Messi.
Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: It’s just the one-on-one competitiveness, where I drive myself. I think I grew up playing team sports but I wasn’t really into that and I think tennis was the right choice for me, being one-on-one. I’d rather do it myself I think.
People Qualities Most Admired: Just you try your best whatever you do, that you give 100% towards people.
Tennis was the right choice for Tomic
Loreley · August 16, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Funny that Tomic said that the match vs. Soderling at Wimbledon was his best so far. Soderling was visible ill. It was tough to watch & I couldn’t understand why Soderling didn’t retire. Tomic was pretty lucky to reach the Quarters. For Soderling it was the beginning of the end.
Scoop Malinowski · August 17, 2012 at 12:31 am
Loreley, I remember that match and Tomic played phenomenally well. I thought it may have been more Tomic’s game made Soderling feel ill. Like John McEnroe said it’s been scientifically proven a player feels worse when he’s losing )
Andrew Miller · August 17, 2012 at 1:20 am
Well done – this captured the Aussie spirit very well. Tomic has all the tools to win big on tour. I think, as someone else said, that a fan that is new to the sport should watch a player like Rios – today, those kinds of players are Tomic and Dolgo, outside of Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray. Tomic has a wicked court sense.
Dan Markowitz · August 17, 2012 at 6:03 am
I watched Tomic play Djokovic in Toronto and I disagree with you. I didn’t think he showed a lot of flair at all. His game is rather straight-forward. Yes, he does have touch, but I think it hurts his game more than helps it. He’s not from what I saw, a Murray-like player who can changed speeds and spins all that well. He’s also a very passive player, surprisingly, doesn’t approach net much.
In the Djoko match, he hit a lob over Djoko’s head and didn’t even come up. Tomic’s got to show more fire in the belly.
Loreley · August 17, 2012 at 6:08 am
Scoop, Soderling was really sick at that time. He had already mono, but didn’t know it. I remember that Tomic still had to play well to beat him. He sensed his chance. I kinda like Tomic, because he is not so much a mainstream guy.
Steve · August 17, 2012 at 11:53 am
Have a Rik De Voest biofile? I always see him playing during US Open qualies.
Dan markowitz · August 17, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Rik De Voest bio-file!! Who do you think Scoop is? Next y’all are going to ask for a Brendan Evans bio-file. Where does it stop? Scoop is a hard-working reporter, but this is ridiculous,
Scoop, do you have a Rik De Voest bio-file?
Scoop Malinowski · August 17, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Dan; Tomic is definitely reserved and contained on the court, but that’s his nature, he’s like an Edberg or Henman in that way. I think the fire burns inside he just doesn’t show it. Tomic likes to pick you apart and dissect you, like a surgeon. Even when he went on that run in Australia this year, he never seemed to get too excited, even in the big moments. He’s a cool kid. Maybe getting fired up more is what he needs.
Scoop Malinowski · August 17, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Loreley, does Sod still have mono? How can a pro athlete have mono for so long? Fed’s mono was highly curious too. Supposedly had it when he lost to Djokovic in Australia but he sure looked strong that same tourney beating Santoro in three easy sets, guess the mono had the day off or was dormant in the Santoro win lol. Roddick supposedly had mono too. Wonder who will get it next.
Scoop Malinowski · August 17, 2012 at 1:04 pm
No De Voest Biofile but I do have a Jeff Coetzee Biofile. Will try to get Rik at qualies next week, he’s been around a long time and surely it will be a very good Biofile. Guys like Andre Sa, Hugo Armando, Danai Udomchoke, Vince Spadea and John Paul Fruttero were excellent Biofiles.
Mitch · August 17, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Mono and its complications took Ancic out of the game. Hopefully Soderling will be able to come back strong.
I agree with Brad Gilbert criticism’s of Tomic from his match with Fed yesterday. He needs to bulk up and add some juice to his game, especially the serve.
Harold · August 17, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I cant believe Gilbert put Dmitrov on the same level as Raoncis and Tomic, while talking about their potential. Guess hes off the Harrison bandwagon, but Dmitrov doesnt belong as well..All flash, no fire and no majors in his future.
Think Rao and Tomic better stick around past the guys in their mid 20’s now, or theyll never win majors either
Scoop Malinowski · August 17, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Dimitrov definitely has the fire I saw it at two of his matches in Miami this year, he reacted like he won the tournament, so much emotion and happiness. But the consistent results just aren’t there. SPoke with his former coach last year Peter McNamara, a former top 10 player in the world and he told me that Dimitrov has much more talent than he himself ever had. Talent is not the problem with Dimitrov it’s just learning to be consistent and harness it and learn how to win with it day in and day out. Dimitrov is in the same boat as all of his peers, they are all struggling to move up the rankings.
Dan Markowitz · August 17, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Now wait a second, Scoop. I’m insulted for Spadea, putting him in with that motley crew of Fruttero, Armando and the rest of those low-level pros. Geez, will anyone give Spadea a little credit?
Loreley · August 17, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Soderling is still unable to practise. It’s a tricky disease. If I remember it right it killed the career of the german player Alexander Popp as well.
Steve · August 17, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Tomic has a sweet orange BMW and certainly seems calm when the cops start ticketing him. Tomic likes to create points and isn’t a mindless basher of the ball yet somehow his game is still a bit boring.
Steve · August 17, 2012 at 6:17 pm
I will be away during the Open qualies so no Rik Biofile as of yet. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · August 18, 2012 at 12:02 am
Hey watch it bub, Fruttero has not one but TWO wins over Sampras in World Team Tennis and Armando once beat Kafelnikov 61 61 in Kitzbuhel when Kafel was top 4 in the world, Armando also won a doubles title in Delray with Malisse. That may not put them in the Spadea echelon of elite players but they are pretty darn close with those crednetials.
Scoop Malinowski · August 18, 2012 at 12:06 am
Tomic got rid of that car Steve. Love the way Tomic plays and he has a bit of an edge too. Remember the episode at Wimbledon a few years back where Hewitt’s team asked Tomic to practice and the response they got was a blow off, they felt Hewitt wasn’t a good enough player. It was later denied but the Hewitt side stands behind it. In a way that’s controverial behavior from a young gun but at the same time you have to admire that kind of confidence and swagger by Tomic. You have to give the top guys their due respect but it’s not wise to give them too much respect. I like Tomic a lot.
Steve · August 18, 2012 at 1:10 pm
He def. has swagger and I dug the car.
In other news, Wawrinka played some smart tennis in his third set again Raonic and he got it done with the forehand and a bit of serve and volley instead of his textbook one hander.
Andrew Miller · August 18, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Dan’s point on Tomic’s desire is pretty spot on. I do see, sometimes, in Tomic the skill of Federer (toying with people) and the desire of Djokovic (going for Win, no matter what), but chalk it up to inconsistency.
Tomic’s a tall, more consistent Donald Young. With a magic game, he wins more often AND he doesn’t push it when the going gets tough often enough to make more than a splash, rather than a wave, or even a tide, on tour.
You never know – will he, or anyone of his talent level – push it, get better, make the most of each match (as often as possible?)?
Sad reality: for both of them, it’s unlikely, at least at the slam level. Del Potro made it happen (and is unlikely to do it again, but you never know). Nadal’s opting out for the U.S. Open opens a small window of opportunity, but likely for a player like Murray. Then there are other players who have done the time to get better – like Tsonga, with the ability to do it, but who play more for the amazing shot than the trophy. All these players ahead of the Tomics and Raonics want it more and put in the effort.
I’ve love to see Tomic do it. But I’ve only seen one player with the obscenely wicked game to win consistently on tour since Rios retired, and that’s Federer (Nadal too has the spins, but I think Federer’s game has way more variety). So for me, it’s not in the cards. But as you all know, it’s all about the player and their making the most of it, whatever I think has no impact.
Andrew Miller · August 18, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Armando was always top ranked in the USTA FL news I read (you’d see it like this:
Rankings, 14s
#1. Armando, Hugo, Miami FL
….
Nineteen-way tie for #321. Miller, A.
Armando was winning matches love and love; I was getting a few games of of #100 rankings. And the rankings didn’t lie in my case: #321 got me onto my tennis team as it’s lowest ranked player but when I switched schools, I found that I couldn’t make the varsity team.
I think when it comes to tennis, rankings are a pretty good indicator of where a player’s at. In my case, it was oblivion. But I love the game!
Scoop Malinowski · August 18, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Tomic still looks like a kid to me when he peaks physically, I think that’s when we will see his best tennis. He’s big strong player at 6-5 205 but has a nimbleness about his movement. Eventually it’s all going to come together for Tomic, the blend of power and finesse, I can see him becoming a top 5 player, maybe even a dominant one. The talent of Tomic is very clear, he has shown many flashes of brilliance. Remember, so many talented players looked shaky in their early years, Agassi, Sampras, Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Rios, just about all of them except for Nadal who took the fast track to the top. I really like and believe in Tomic, his day will come.
Andrew Miller · August 19, 2012 at 3:22 am
Maybe Raonic and Tomic will find a way to the top. Technically those two guys should be rivals, same for Harrison. Will they be?
No one knows. Too many players ahead of them.