Melbourne, July 17 (IANS) Australian tennis great Pat Rafter says Bernard Tomic has “probably hit rock bottom” after the troubled 22-year-old was arrested in the US overnight for loud partying at his Miami hotel.
Miami police were called to the W South Beach Hotel on Wednesday night after several guests complained of excessive noise emanating from Tomic’s suite, Xinhua reported on Friday.
World No.25 Tomic was asked by hotel security to vacate the establishment, before police arrived and arrested him on misdemeanour and resisting arrest charges.
A police spokesperson said the Australian displayed “aggressive and belligerent” behaviour, and may face jail time. Tomic was taken to jail around 5.30am, before he posted his $2,000 bail.
Rafter on Friday said Tomic had reached his lowest ebb.
“It looks like overnight he’s probably hit rock bottom,” Rafter, Tomic’s Davis Cup captain, said.
“Hopefully when people hit rock bottom, they can turn things around.”
Tomic was due to play in Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Kazakhstan in Darwin on Friday, but was left out following his criticism of Tennis Australia (TA) for threatening to withdraw funding for him, and his tennis-playing sister, Sara.
TA president Steve Healy, whom Tomic scorned in that post-Wimbledon rant, described the youngster’s arrest as a “sad, sad situation”.
“He’s making some very poor decisions,” Healy said.
However, like Rafter, Healy expressed his hope the prodigious young talent could turn things around.
“He’s a phenomenal talent … and he’s still only 22 (years old),” he said.
“If he gets his act together … he’s going to use that talent and do very well. It’s not too late for him to turn around public opinion.”
In what may be a thinly veiled swipe at Tomic’s father, John, who also doubles as his coach, Healy said Tomic had “some bad people around him” which he should “look at”.
“He needs to listen. We want to help and we’ve got people who can help if he’s prepared to listen,” Healy said.
