Bernard Tomic explains: “I’m not the bad boy people think I am”
Bernard Tomic has developed a reputation for being in the news for all the wrong reasons, but ahead of his appearance on Channel 10 program I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, the tennis prodigy wants to set the record on his public image straight.
The 25-year-old Tomic has copped a beating in the press for everything from feigning injury to traffic violations, but the professional tennis player who was once ranked No. 17 in the world told Fairfax there’s another side to his personality.
"I've said so many things in so many press conferences that caused problems," Tomic told Fairfax.
“There's been incidents with police and arrests in Miami. Obviously, I did these things and I regret them. Now I'm keen to show people a different side to my personality."
Tomic admitted that he has his regrets but stopped short of apologising.
"I regret 80 per cent of what I've done," he says.
"I didn't know any life apart from tennis since I was eight years old," he says.
"I was just a machine, training with my father ... I didn't have a childhood; obviously, that took its toll."
Tomic was in the news earlier this year when, after failing to qualify for the Aussie Open, he invited journos to replicate his actions while he counted his riches.
"I regretted saying that about two minutes later," he says. "But when you truly get to know me, I'm a good guy. I'm not the bad boy people think I am."
What are your thoughts? Do you think Tomic is getting the short end of the stick? Or is it about time the Australian tennis star grew up and fulfilled his potential?