I still love my dad, says troubled Tomic

PARIS (AFP) –

Australia’s Bernard Tomic plays a backhand against Britain’s Andy Murray in Key Biscayne, on March 23, 2013. Tomic has suffered another setback in his faltering career when he was forced to quit his French Open first round match with an injury.

Troubled Australian star Bernard Tomic insists he still loves his father, who is facing criminal charges in Spain for assaulting his training partner, and that they will still work together.

Tomic, 20, suffered another setback in his faltering career when he quit his French Open first round match with an injury on Tuesday.

He then revealed that John Tomic will remain as his coach even though he has had his tour credentials withdrawn and was banned from the French Open.

Tomic senior was arrested and charged with assaulting his son’s hitting partner, Frenchman Thomas Drouet, in Madrid on May 4 and faces a trial in October.

Drouet was left with a broken nose after a brawl outside the hotel where players in the Madrid Masters were staying.

“My dad is in Paris, he’s still my dad and he is still working with me. I love him a lot,” said Tomic, who dropped the first two sets against Victor Hanescu on Tuesday before quitting in the third set to hand a 7-5, 7-6 (10/8), 2-1 win to his Romanian opponent.

“I don’t really want to talk about the incidents. It’s all difficult to put into words and I want you to respect that.”

But he added: “My dad will always be my coach. He knows me better than anyone. But I may get someone in to help him and work with us.”

Tomic needed a medical timeout after just 10 minutes out on a chilly and damp Court Six for a right hamstring injury even though he had just broken for a 2-1 lead.

But 31-year-old Hanescu, who made the quarter-finals in 2005, levelled for 4-4 and then broke for the set at 7-5.

The pair were into the tie-break in the second set when heavy rain sent them scurrying to the locker room.

However, just minutes after their return, Tomic offered his hand and left the court.

He had already quit his previous meeting with Hanescu in Dubai this year also with injury.

Tomic said he had consulted doctors during the rain break who diagnosed a muscle tear.

“I felt a tear after just the second point. I have never had that pain before. The doctors said it was torn,” said the Australian.

“It’s not eight weeks, just a week or so. There was no point in playing another set or two sets. It sucks.

“But the grasscourt season is coming, my favourite surface and I want to be 100 percent for that.”