Tomic: It_Ñés important to pick up advice from champions

 

Originally published on: 30/04/13 00:00

The Australian No.1, who helped his nation reach the World Group play-offs with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan this month, told ATPWorldTour.com how he benefits from spending time with former world No.1s Hewitt and Rafter.

“It’s amazing feeling to be around these people,” said the world No.49. “Lleyton and Pat give a lot of advice to me. To have these people around at the Davis Cup and tournaments is great. It’s important to pick up advice from champions like them. Anything I take from those guys is huge for me.”

Tomic made his tour breakthrough at the beginning of the year when he picked up the first title of his career at home in Sydney, before making a run to the third round of the Australian Open where he fell to Roger Federer. Since then, the Monte-Carlo resident has lost just one match to a player ranked below him – Victor Hanescu in Dubai – but he has gone beyond the second round of an ATP event just once.

The 20-year-old, who is coached by his father, says consistency will be the key if he is to climb the rankings further.

“There are a lot of players who play well for a certain number of weeks,” said Tomic, who fell 6-0 6-2 to Juan Monaco in Barcelona last week. “It’s about playing really well for a consistent number of weeks. That’s what the top players do really well, so I have to build on that. I have to get to what they do and keep a consistent level.

“If I worked smarter and harder, I would have improved much more. But it’s good to grab these things when you’re young. It’s a tough road. I have obviously improved the last three years, but to continue to improve is up to you and not anyone else.”

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