Roger Federer comments on Bernard Tomic and says the Aussie underachieved in 2013. After a good Australian summer campaign where Tomic won Sydney and reached the third round of the Australian Open (where he lost to Federer), the 21-year-old fell out of the Top 50 by year’s end and lost his last six main-draw matches.
Tomic is scheduled to play the Hopman Cup exhibition, and will try to defend his title in Sydney before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
“Clearly, we all expect more from Bernard after the great start he had in Sydney and then at the Australian Open,” Federer told the *Courier-Mail*. “He has had a very tough season, let’s be honest. We know he has a higher gear to go to and has great potential. It’s going to be one of those seasons where he (needs to) prove himself on the tour and not lingering around No. 50 in the world and move inside the Top 25. He struggled all the way through which wasn’t surprising after what happened. I hope he can play a more simpler way mentally. It’s hard playing when distracted for a long period of the time.”