Tomic needs extreme makeover: Newcombe

Updated November 21, 2012 16:47:33

Tennis great John Newcombe believes Bernard Tomic requires an "extreme makeover" to have any hope of reviving his flagging career.

Newcombe says the 20-year-old needs to get supremely fit, revamp his predictable game and lose the attitude to realise his potential.

"Bernie's out in the real world now and I don't think he's come to that conclusion," Newcombe said on Wednesday.

"He might have to hit rock bottom first and fall out of the top 100. That can easily happen."

If he continues his run of outs during the Australian summer, after reaching the Brisbane International semi-finals and last 16 at Melbourne Park this year, Tomic will in fact be at risk of slipping from the top 100 as early as January.

Such a dreaded scenario would leave the dual junior grand slam champion having to qualify for premier events and Newcombe suspects Tomic may struggle against the hungrier pros desperate to earn a living.

"They're trained killers out there," the seven-times grand slam champion and former world number one said.

"I think Bernie thinks it's just going to happen and it's not."

While others are advocating a change of coach from his father John, Newcombe believes Tomic's troubles run deeper than that.

"Unless he's prepared to devote 100 per cent of time and effort to becoming as good as he could become, it doesn't matter who his coach is. It's going to fall apart," he said.

"The answer to Bernard is Bernard.

"Until Bernie makes a decision on what he's willing to do and draws a line in the sand and knuckles down, he's not going to fulfil his full potential.

"I'm not sure also if he realises that his game has become predictable.

"He had a different type of game that worked when he came on to the scene and guys had trouble dealing with it.

"Now they've figured out what he can and what he can't do. They're probing that and it's making Bernie very uncomfortable in his matches, not realising a way out of that."

Tomic has dipped from a career-high number 27 in the world to 52nd in the rankings and Newcombe doubts he will crack the top 20 with his current playing style.

"He can change that but to play another type of game, he's got to get his fitness up another 30 per cent," Newcombe said.

"Then he can start developing a more powerful game.

"He can volley well; he should be spending more time at the net.

"But if you're not 100 per cent fit, that's hard to do. And if your mobility is not great, that's hard to do.

"If I was giving him advice, I'd say go and find the best physical trainer in the world and go and spend three months getting yourself really fit."

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, australia

First posted November 21, 2012 16:47:33

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Stosur wins Newcombe Medal

Updated December 03, 2012 23:09:24

Ultra-consistent Samantha Stosur continued her domination of the Newcombe Medal on Monday night, being named Australia's most outstanding tennis player for a third straight year.

Although Stosur did not claim any singles titles in 2012, she reached the final at Doha and Moscow and was a semi-finalist in four other events, including the French Open.

The 28-year-old Queenslander also made a solid defence of her US Open title, advancing to the last eight at Flushing Meadows before bowing out to world number one Victoria Azarenka.

Stosur - whose year-end ranking dropped three places to number nine - became the first Australian woman since Wendy Turnbull to finish in the world top 10 three years in succession.

"Receiving the Newcombe Medal for a third year in a row is an amazing honour," Stosur said.

"The Newcombe Medal is a great occasion for the Australian tennis community to come together and celebrate our sport, recognise people's achievements and contributions to Australian tennis."

The other finalists were French Open mixed doubles champion Casey Dellacqua, former world number one Lleyton Hewitt and Marinko Matosevic.

Josh Eagle was honoured as Australia's best high performance coach at the function at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.

Eagle coaches Matosevic, who made giant strides in 2012 to end the year as Australia's highest ranked men's player.

Luke Saville, the 2011 Wimbledon and 2012 Australian Open junior champion, and Ashleigh Barty, who won last year's junior Wimbledon crown, were named junior athletes of the year.

It was the third straight year Barty had won the award.

She improved her ranking by more than 600 places in 2012, claiming four ITF titles along the way.

Ian Barclay - who coached Pat Cash to his 1987 Wimbledon triumph - was honoured with the President's spirit of tennis award.

Barclay's coaching career stretched over five decades.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, australia

First posted December 03, 2012 22:17:49

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Stosur wins second Newcombe Medal

Updated December 05, 2011 22:18:35

US Open champion Samantha Stosur hopes her breakthrough year marks the start of another successful era for Australian tennis.

Stosur was awarded the Newcombe Medal as the country's best player for the second consecutive year at the Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne on Monday night.

The legendary John Newcombe presented the 2011 US Open champion and current world number six with the medal.

The 27-year-old Queenslander was the hottest of favourites ahead of a shortlist which included Wimbledon quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic, Shanghai Masters quarter-finalist Matthew Ebden and Jarmila Gajdosova, who achieved a career-high WTA ranking of 25.

"It's such an honour to win the Newcombe Medal again this year and to have so many legendary Australian players here in the room makes it even more special," Stosur said.

"Winning the US Open is of course the pinnacle of my career to date.

"I'd like to thank my amazing team, especially my coach Dave Taylor, who has never stopped believing in me."

With Tomic and Ebden rising through the men's rankings and the achievement of Ashleigh Barty and Luke Saville in winning the Wimbledon junior girls and boys titles, Stosur hoped the success for Australian players would continue.

Barty was the first Australian in 31 years to win the junior girls crown.

"It's been a great year for tennis in Australia with Ash and Luke winning at Wimbledon and Bernard doing so well, and hopefully this is just the beginning of more success to come," said Stosur.

Barty and Saville were named junior athletes of the year.

Another highlight was the presentation of the Spirit of Tennis Award to former world number one and Australia's most successful Davis Cup player, Lleyton Hewitt, in recognition of his outstanding leadership, passion, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.

"It's an honour to receive this award," Hewitt said.

"There is no greater feeling than playing for your country.

"Wearing the green and gold has been what I have cherished the most, therefore to receive the Spirit of Tennis award for Australia is very humbling."

Stosur's coach Taylor, who is also the Australian Fed Cup captain, was recognised with the Coaching Excellence, High Performance Award.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 05, 2011 22:18:35

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