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Why "cement truck" Tomic deserves our respect
SEN • January 14th, 2026 3:21 pm
While Bernard Tomic still runs around the court “like a cement truck” his love of the game and fight to get back to the top should be respected, according to Brett Phillips.
The 33-year-old, who was once ranked 17th in the world, has spent the majority of the last decade playing on the challenger tour, battling to break back into the top 100.
Over the years the Aussie has been no stranger to controversy both on and off the court and is unfortunately more famous for his brushes with the law and links to match fixing than his tennis prowess.
Previously nicknamed Tomic the Tank Engine, his reputation on the circuit has been less than favourable, but the signs he is showing this week suggest this is a very different Bernard to days gone by.
Ten years on from his ranking peak, Tomic is in Melbourne looking to qualify for the Australian Open which gets under way later this month.
Cruising through his first match against 25th seed Hugo Dellien, Tomic needs to win two more matches to secure a first round berth.
“It would be big – if he qualified,” Phillips said on SEN Breakfast. “It’s about three years he has been slugging away.
“He does love the game. He doesn’t have his father watching over his shoulder any more.
“He plays uniquely. He still moves like a cement truck. He is a huge guy but his movement has never been his strength. He gets to quarter final stage and runs out of gas.
“Deep down he’s not a bad young man. If you peel away lots of things.
“All he can do is keep playing the game he loves.
“He is bullish about getting back to the top 100, it will be tough.”
