I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be the centre of attention in a country that is starving for a new tennis star to lift Australia back up to the top in its national sport. 15 year old Bernard Tomic, he’ll be be sixteen on October 21^st., has already beaten or equalled many of the junior records set by Leyton Hewitt, and all eyes are on this likable kid as he attempts to take his place as the next great Australian tennis player. He was recently selected to represent his country as the 6^th. man on the Australian Davis Cup team against Chile, Australia lost 3-2 and Bernard never got to play, but as he said, “being selected was a great honour and the experience was wonderful.” I’m sure he will have many more opportunities to play Davis Cup matches for his country.

Bernard was born in Germany in 1992. His family moved to Australia when he was three years old, where his Father bought a tennis racket for his son at a garage sale when Bernard was about seven. He coached his son until it was obvious that Bernard had more than just a natural athletic gift for the game. He has gone on to become the 4 time successive winner of the prestigious Orange Bowl Junior championship, consider to be the toughest Junior tournament for young players. Others who won here are Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors,Chris Everet, Monica Seles and Gabriela Sabatini, none won it as many times as Bernard.
He won the 2008 Australian Open Boy’s title at the age of 15, and is competing in playing matches to qualify for the 2009 main draw. If he makes it he will be just 15 years and 4 months old, seven months younger than Leyton Hewitt was when he made it. Proving that he is an all round player, he made the semi final at Wimbledon on grass, and the quarter final at Roland Garros on clay playing against players both older and stronger. He will finish this season ranked 2 or 3 in the Junior ITF rankings.

Bernard’s ambition is to the Number 1 player some day, and he is dedicated to working hard to achieve this lofty goal. He knows he has to grow physically, and he understands the commitment he has been required to make, but as he says, “If I learn to serve like Goran, have the heart of Lleyton, the shots of Sampras, and the movement of Roger, then I should make it!”

Whether or not he competes in the main draw of the 2009 Australian Open in January, he will be defending his Junior crown there, and his matches will most likely be better attended than many of the matches being played by the senior pros. He has become a National tennis idol at a young age, and how he handles this pressure will tell us a lot about the character of this young man.