Tomic turns on as fans turn away

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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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Nine ticks off ODI rotation policy

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BROADCASTER Channel Nine has wholeheartedly endorsed the resting of Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson and other Aussie stars from some matches of the upcoming one-day series.

While Nine wants bang for its buck after last year forking out over $400million for the international cricket rights, it has no issue with some big names being on the sidelines at times during the ODIs against the Poms.

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Nine has in the past been heavily critical of Cricket Australia over the rotation of players, especially last summer when skipper Michael Clarke, Dave Warner and Matthew Wade were given the first two ODI games off.

The Courier-Mail understands fast bowling superstar Johnson will be rested during some of the early ODIS against England, possibly as soon as the series opener at the MCG on Sunday.

Clarke, Warner and 'keeper Brad Haddin are other players likely to have breaks during the five-match ODI series.

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Nine boss of sport Steve Crawley says he understands the need for some players to put their feet up after Australia fielded an unchanged team for five heavy-duty Ashes Tests.

"I wasn't a supporter of the rotation system but Australia have now played five Tests in a row with the same players. I totally get that some of them need to have a rest," Crawley told The Courier-Mail.

"They are men, not machines. I could not be happier for them to have a break.

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"Mitchell Johnson is such a tough bloke but his body would be feeling it after bowling 150km/h throughout the five Tests.

"These players have done the whole country a favour and I understand if they are rested for some (ODI) games."

Given Johnson was stiff and sore when he climbed the presentation dais at the SCG on Sunday to collect his Ashes man-of-the-series award, you can hardly quibble about him being rested.

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However Cricket Australia still needs to walk a tightrope over the resting of players.

For instance, fans who forked out their hard-earned for an ODI ticket will not be deliriously excited watching someone like Clint McKay rather than England's chief tormentor Johnson.

The Australian public is also crying out to chomp on more cricket success and to rub more salt into the Poms' gaping wounds, and the one-day side will be considerably weakened when Johnson does not play.

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Johnson was Australia's leading wicket-taker in the ODI series in India last October and it was no surprise the Aussies lost the deciding one-dayer when he was sent home early to prepare for the Ashes.

Even though Test cricket and the looming series in South Africa must take precedence, this one-day series marks the serious start of Australia's preparation for the 50-over World Cup in Australasia next February.

There is no easy answer or one-size-fits-all approach to Australia's management of its Ashes stars because the cluttered international cricket schedule allows few breaks.

Should Australia rotate their stars in the upcoming ODI series?

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Mad Dog moniker bewilders

Marinko Matosevic hits a forehand in the match against Florian Mayer at the Apia International Tennis Tournament , Homebush .Picture Gregg Porteous Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

SYDNEY sports fans, meet your Mad Dog.

While all hype surrounding the 2014 Sydney International has, not surprisingly, involved Bernard Tomic, fellow Australian Marinko 'Mad Dog' Matosevic is ready to steal some limelight for himself.

Apart from downing German Florian Mayer 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at Homebush yesterday, the 28-year-old Melbournian also had a small, but vocal, mob of blokes screaming 'carn Mad Dog and barking loudly to celebrate his winning points.

But as for where the moniker comes from?

"I don't know,'' the Mad Dog said afterwards, completely mystified.

"I never get it anywhere besides here in Sydney.

"So I think it's a person from up here. They're having me on or something. I know some idiot put it on Wikipedia because last year I came to Sydney, some journalist asked me about the Mad Dog too. I was like what the 'F'?"

So you don't like it then?

"It's okay, but Mad Dog, what is that?" he shrugged.

"Like a dog with rabies? I don't know.

"Honestly, I don't get it anywhere but in Sydney. I think it's a Sydney person with too much time on their hands."

But c'mon Mad Dog, can you really blame us? Remembering that not since Adam MacDougall was winning premierships, earning Test caps and talking to his thighs have sports fans had a cult canine to truly get behind.

And what a story his is. Born in Bosnia, Matosevic immigrated to Melbourne as a child with his parents, Branko and Ljubica, and now sits behind only Lleyton Hewitt and Tomic in Australian men's tennis rankings.

Importantly, his win over Mayer was also a solid return to form after being humbled by Roger Federer in the quarter finals of the Brisbane International, 6-1 6-1.

Asked what he learned from the Federer thumping, Meyer continued: "Not much, to tell you the truth, because I was out of energy in ten minutes.

"I was like so overwrought and Roger suffocated me. I'm watching this guy, and I'm drenched in sweat and he's like not even sweating.

"Not even using a towel and not taking a sip of water. I haven't seen the tape yet but, yeah, I'll watch it."

Asked if he felt frustrated with the amount of exposure Hewitt and Tomic received, Mad Dog said: "No, no.

"I mean, I finished number one last year. In 2012, I finished top 50.

"So it doesn't matter. Lleyton has obviously put the runs on the board with world No. 1 and two Grand Slam wins, Davis Cup wins. And Bernard has made quarterfinals of Wimbledon as an 18 year old.

"You can't take anything away from them. I'm happy. Until I get the results in the big tournaments, I'm happy to play third fiddle."

Fellow Aussie Sam Groth got rolled by experienced Czech Radek Stephanek 7-6 (6) 6-7 (5) 6-2.

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Heat takes toll on tired Hewitt

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LLEYTON Hewitt's single-minded preparation for the Australian Open prompted him to pull out of this week's eight-man event at Kooyong.

Hewitt wants to rest his 32-year-old body after five matches in sapping heat to win last singles title in week's Brisbane International.

"Obviously this week is all about preparation for the Australian Open and getting yourself in as good a nick as possible,'' Hewitt said.

"At the moment, iIt's all about recovery for me. When you get older, it gets a bit tougher. It's tougher than when you were 16, but I still enjoy being out there and having some success.

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"Saturday and Sunday were brutal conditions up in Brisbane. Very little breeze and very hot and humid in Pat Rafter Arena. We're going into the first major and you have to do absolutely everything that's right for you.''

Hewitt will still play a match at Kooyong, against Scot Andy Murray, as an extra match to the Classic's schedule on Friday. Australian Open defending champion Novak Djokovic has also asked for a warm-up at Kooyong and will play Argentine Juan Monaco on Thursdaytomorrow.

Hewitt's withdrawal gives Sydney teenager Jordan Thompson an opportunity to test himself in three matches against top-20 players at Kooyong this week.

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Thompson, ranked 315, won a spot in the Open field in the wildcard playoff before Christmas and the 19-year-old earned the Kooyong call-up with the rest of Australia's higher ranked players in Sydney this week.

Hewitt, who will base his schedule around the four Grand Slams championshipsand Davis Cup ties, is not fazed at being Australia's top-ranked player again after his final triumph over Roger Federer.

"It's just a number. I couldn't care less,'' he said. If I go out and win a title, obviously, I'm playing well enough to still compete against the best guys in the world,'' he said.

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"We still have some young guys on the way up led by Bernie (Tomic). Hopefully, I'm not 35 and still the No. 1, but we'll wait and see.''

On his Open chances, Hewitt said: "Every match is tough. Being not seeded, you come into any of the seeded guys in the first couple of rounds.

"It has been a dream since I was eight, nine years old. For me to still be out there competing, this is my 18th Australian Open in a row, so I'm thrilled just to be out there.

"As long as I'm still enjoying tennis, training and doing all the hard things, I'll keep playing. Over the last four or five years, I missed a lot of tennis through surgery and that freshens you up mentally and physically.

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"I've made no secret that I'm not going to play every week. I don't want to and I don't need to. I try to prepare as best as possible for the majors and Davis Cup and work my schedule around that.''

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White Australia's forgotten man

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IF DOMESTIC form counts for anything, then the national selectors must have raised an eyebrow at Cameron White's 1110 runs so far this summer.

Raised an eyebrow, but not lifted him into the Australian team.

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White is in the top three leading run scorers in the Shield, Ryobi Cup and Big Bash competitions, but has not cracked it for a spot in the national Test or one-day squads.

Asked whether he thought he was entering Brad Hodge territory - being ignored by selectors despite scoring a mountain of runs - White responded: "No. I hope not.

"Hopefully I'm not being ignored and there's an opportunity just around the corner.

"I feel as though I've got unfinished business playing for Australia. I'd like to push on and play a lot more for Australia in all of the formats. That's why I'm still playing cricket.

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"I probably would've chucked it in if that wasn't the case. I still love playing the game and harbour strong ambitions to get back there and prove myself at that level again."

The Melbourne Stars skipper said getting the call up to play for Australia was often simply a matter of the stars being in alignment.

"Just because you're in good form, doesn't mean that you're guaranteed to play," the 30-year-old said.

"I think (the members of) the one-day team, individually, they've been playing pretty well as well, their batsmen especially have had a good last couple of series, so I just have to be patient and wait for a spot."

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His Melbourne Stars and Victorian coach, Greg Shipperd, said the Australian selectors had been "really consistent" in giving opportunities to in-form cricketers over the past few seasons, and expected White to feature in the three Twenty20 internationals against England later this month.

"I think he must have been really, really close to selection for the one-day series," Shipperd said, "and I don't think they've bedded down the Australian Twenty20 team yet, so I'd be surprised if he's not included in that group at the back end of the season given his current form."

Shipperd said that in addition to his dynamic batting, White's leadership, superb fielding and useful bowling meant he would definitely be "on the selectors' radar" for the T20 World Cup (in Bangladesh in March) and the 2015 World Cup in Australasia.

"I know that in discussions with them they've been suitably impressed with Cameron's current form and the way he's striking the ball."

He suggested White's Shield form meant he would be in the discussions about the touring party for the upcoming Test series in South Africa, but "I think they've shown their hand as far as the next Test batsman goes, and that's (Alex) Doolan."

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When the first Test gets underway at Centurion on February 12, White is more likely to be padding up for Victoria in a Shield match against New South Wales at the SCG, a formidable presence in the Bushrangers' middle order.

"I think the penny's dropped in terms of putting together all of the technical aspects he's been working on over a long period of time," Shipperd said of White's red-ball form.

"That, added to his maturity as a player. The mental side of the game, the strategies around how hard to attack it as a batsman, that side of things has come together nicely this year.

"At 30 a lot of those things click in to place for a lot of cricketers and think that's been the case for him."

White agreed: "My game's in a good place ... I feel that my game's in the order it needs to be to go back to the next level, but in saying that you can't just expect that because you're in good form (you'll get called up).

"There are plenty of people in good form around the country that aren't that side either.

"It's up to me to keep performing and to be patient and hopefully when the timing's right I can grab a chance again."

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Messi cleared for return

Dynamic duo ... Barcelona's Neymar (right) and Lionel Messi will be back together on the pitch soon. Source: Manu Fernandez / AP

LIONEL Messi is set to return from a two-month injury lay-off after being cleared by Barcelona team doctors and included in the squad for the Copa del Rey match against Getafe tomorrow

Messi hasn't played since tearing his left hamstring in November, his fourth leg injury last year.

He returned to training with Barcelona last week after recovering in Argentina.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said Messi "feels fine" but didn't reveal if the club's all-time leading scorer will start or stay on the bench.

"Messi rehabbed well and has trained like the rest of the team," Martino said. "Maybe he lacks some playing time, but with Leo I don't think that will be a problem.

"Messi gives us all a boost of confidence. With him at our side, we all feel more secure."

Martino said that if Messi plays he hopes he can repeat his remarkable goal against Getafe in 2007, when he dribbled from his own half, slaloming by a series of defenders, to net arguably his greatest goal.

Barcelona lost its only two games of the season without Messi, but it has managed to hold onto a share of the Spanish league lead with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona hosts Getafe in the first leg of the round of 16 before travelling to Atletico on Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated league matches of the season.

In Messi's absence, Pedro Rodriguez, Neymar and, most recently, Alexis Sanchez have picked up the scoring slack. Pedro leads the team with 15 goals in all competitions this season, one more than Messi.

Martino left Xavi Hernandez, Dani Alves and Marc Bartra off his squad for the Getafe match. He also confirmed that backup goalkeeper Jose Pinto will continue to start in the Copa del Rey, as he had under prior coaches Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova.

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