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'Agonising to watch': Bernard Tomic blasted for 'disinterested' flogging

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Bernard Tomic (pictured) relaxing between points at the Australian Open.
Bernard Tomic (pictured) was slammed or his performance after he was demolished at the hands of Denis Shapovalov at the Australian Open. (Image: Eurosport)

Bernard Tomic drew the ire of tennis fans once again after a ‘disinterested’ showing in the first set against in-form Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the second round of the Australian Open.

Tomic, who hasn’t always endeared himself to the Aussie public after some lacklustre performances throughout his fleeting career, made his first appearance in the Australian Open Round 2 since 2017.

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Earlier in the day, former Aussie player Sam Groth predicted Shapovalov would ‘absolutely dismantle’ Tomic.

But it didn’t even take much effort from the Canadian as the Australian crumbled in the opening set, which took 23 minutes.

Tomic had strapping on his knee when he entered court and appeared barely interested in chasing down shots.

The stats didn’t paint a pretty picture either.

Tomic served at just 46 per cent, including 2 double faults, 12 unforced errors and winning a total of 14 points in the first set.

Commentators hit out at ‘lazy’ Tomic

The commentator mentioned the Aussie could be calling for a trainer after his lacklustre movement.

“I would think that Bernie would be calling for the trainer soon. He’s not engaged in this match at all. That’s four love in 13 minutes,” he said.

“He’s been a bit of an enigma, Bernard, hasn’t he? In his career.”

He latter added: “He’s not prepared to run, right now.”

Tomic appeared to show some fight at the beginning of the second set, before getting back into the same routine and barely chasing the ball.

“That’s just lazy...no use of the legs,” the commentator said in the third set.

Fans on social media were even more critical of his performance.

The match finished 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 as Shapovalov breezed into the next round.

At one point, commentator John Fitzgerald labelled the performance “cringeworthy”.

Tomic made more than 40 unforced errors, but the commentator added some of the balls he could have chased down, but didn’t, could have also been included in that column.

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