28 May,2014 08:30 AM IST | | AFP
Struggling Australian Bernard Tomic blew his top at the French Open on Tuesday slamming questions about his controversial father as 'stupid' and even 'berserk'
Australia's Bernard Tomic returns the ball to France's Richard Gasquet during their French Open first round match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Paris: Struggling Australian Bernard Tomic blew his top at the French Open on Tuesday slamming questions about his controversial father as 'stupid' and even 'berserk'.
Australia's Bernard Tomic returns the ball to France's Richard Gasquet during their French Open first round match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Tomic's career has nosedived in the past 12 months and he has reached the main draw of just one tournament since withdrawing in the first round of the Australian Open against Rafael Nadal.
He underwent double hip surgery shortly afterwards Australia and then suffered a record 26-minute defeat on his comeback event at Miami.
His world ranking has dropped to 80 since bursting onto the scene at Wimbledon in 2011 where he reached the quarter-finals as a qualifier.
Last year, his father John was banned from attending the French Open, even as a paying spectator, after he was charged with assaulting his son's hitting partner, Frenchman Thomas Drouet in Madrid.
Drouet was left with a broken nose after a brawl broke out in front of the players hotel in the Spanish capital.
With his father back in the fold as coach and in attendance on Tuesday, it had little effect as Tomic was bundled out in the first round 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 by Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
"It's good to have him back. It's been one year and it's been difficult for me. I'm happy to have my dad back and supporting me and by my side," he replied to the initial questions about John Tomic.
However when queried about his dad's troubles off the court, Tomic then exploded with rage.
"I think that's not a very relevant question because I don't think about that. That's a stupid question.
"Do I sit there thinking about those sort of questions? No, I don't. That's a stupid question. How can you answer that? That's berserk."
Tomic can now look ahead to the grass court season and a surface he's more comfortable on having become the youngest man since Boris Becker in 1986 to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals three years ago.
"I look forward to it because grass is my favourite surface. I believe I can switch it on and anything can happen on grass with me.
"Hopefully I can get settled with my hips but the next ten days are very important to me to build and train differently on grass, because the movement is completely different.
"I've got to get settled in the next ten days.
