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Bernard Tomic’s ‘foul’ tantrum

Getty

Getty

Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic has been forced to apologise after he delivered a colourful outburst to staff at a resort on the Gold Coast.

The world no.18 asked local players to leave a tennis court at the Gold Coast RACV Royal Pines to make way for his private practice session, a member of the resort told the media.

The local players reported the snub to staff, which prompted one of the accommodation centre’s managers to request a $20 court fee.

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But the 23-year-old, who was training for the Brisbane International at the time, responded with verbal abuse.

“He (the manager) continued to be polite and asked who do I need to see to pay (the fee)?” the resort member, who asked not to be named said.

“That’s when Bernard gave him absolute verbal and foul language.”

Tomic’s Brisbane International bid was put to an end by Canadian Milos Raonic, when he beat the Australian 7-6, 7-6 in the semi-finals

The finish saw the 23-year-old listed at a 16th seeding in the Australian Open.

The pressure of the past few weeks’ tournaments led to the outburst, Tomic told News Corp Australia.

“I’ve been so focused on preparing for all my matches, I know there’s no excuse for my behaviour,” he said.

“I didn’t mean to cause any trouble and I apologise to the club members.

“There seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding and my practice was interrupted and I got a bit frustrated.”

It was not the first time Tomic’s dislike of court fees led to trouble.

He was suspended in July last year after launching on the offensive against Tennis Australia’s request he pay for court hire and tennis balls.

“There has been [a] lack of support towards me. There has been no respect, I think, towards me,” he said at the time.

– with AAP

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