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BERNARD Tomic, it could be argued, performed for a bigger crowd at Schoolies.
Despite completely dominating his first outing at the 2014 Sydney International - destroying Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0 at the Sydney Olympic Tennis Centre yesterday - the controversial Aussie played before a Ken Rosewall Arena that, at best, was half full.
While his father John, who is banned from the upcoming Australian Open, made a surprise appearance courtside, the low crowd numbers suggest the Australian public is far from sold on the 21-year-old defending champion who has endured a raft of negative headlines, including his Gold Coast nightclub lap dance from two school leavers in November.
Yet on the opening day his 2014 Sydney tilt, Tomic insisted not only was he ready to defend the trophy, his sole ATP win of last year, but had "a very good feeling" thanks to the old man being courtside.
"Obviously my dad is still there,'' Tomic said last night.
"He's the one that me taught me to play like this.
"I've spent hours with him that I probably won't spend with no one else in my life. He knows me the best and is one of the reasons I am who I am today.
Bernard Tomic supporters in the stand , John Tomic ( ID by Will Swanton /front row blue shirt and black cap ) at the Apia International Tennis Tournament , Homebush .Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited
"My new coach is helping me out in a new way but I've still got my dad on my side, which is very important to me. I know his ban will finish very soon, in a few months, and he'll be back to helping me. I'm happy. Today I played very good, felt very good . . . I've always got two open minds and they're helping me, I'm positive with it and thankful for that."
John Tomic has been banned from ATP events for a year after assaulting Bernard's practice partner Thomas Drouet in May last year, for which he received a suspended sentence.
Yet while the old man won't be seen at Melbourne Park - even as a spectator after Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley said he was barred from the grounds - he is able to enter other venues as a paying fan at the discretion of individual tournament directors.
When asked if he had a contingency plan for the Australian Open, Tomic, who has employed a new coach in Velimir Zovko, continued: "Yeah, well I've moved down to Melbourne, so Melbourne is home for me now.
Bernard Tomic hits a return of sreve off Marcel Granollers at the Apia International Tennis Tournament , Homebush .Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited
"Obviously he (dad) can't come in, but that's fine. I'll see him at home. If there is anything I need to hear, he'll tell me."
Tomic will meet Blaz Kavcic in the second round, the Slovenian qualifier having downed Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-4, 6-3.
And it's expected Tomic senior will again by present, with tournament boss Craig Watson confirming permission had been granted to attend the Australian Open tune-up, although he is strictly prohibited from entering the players' area.
"The ATP has banned John Tomic - as is public knowledge - which excludes him from getting credentials and being in other accreditable areas," Watson said.
"There is nothing that prohibits the events agreeing to John being in public areas of the ground and I've agreed to allow that to happen."
Tomic also insisted he was disappointed despite having failed to make his goal of reaching the top 10 in 2013.
"You know, if I'm 25 years old, 26 years old I would probably feel like that,'' he said. "But I've just turned 21, so I think I'm at the right age."
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