That's Ewan on the left, and Bernard on the right. Source: AAP
THIS is what Bernard Tomic needs to hear. It's an open letter from former pro golfer Ewan Porter.
Ewan who?
Porter is a 31-year-old Aussie who won two tournaments as a golf pro, one in America and one in Australia. These days he is an author, as well as a TV commentator and presenter.
Porter has few regrets about his career. He's in a happier spot nowadays than when he chased glory on the fairways and greens.
Having said that, Porter knows he could have extracted more wins from his career if he'd done things differently. He sees a lot of his younger self in Bernard Tomic.
That's why these words should be printed on young Bernie's ceiling...
DEAR BERNARD,
We have never met, but watching you play tennis is like looking at my reflection.
Having played professional sport (golf) for over a decade and recorded victories in Australia and the United States, I was often branded with the tag "talented", but more often than not people would refer to me as a "loose cannon".
With the benefit of hindsight and wisdom, I now understand that I failed to fulfil my potential due to a lack of passion for my craft, and I'm hoping your journey can avoid the same roadblocks I encountered.
Like most Australians, I want to see you succeed and attain the lofty heights we all know you're capable of. But unlike most, who'd rather chastise you, I'd like to take a look at why you're digging yourself an unnecessary hole.
You are a precocious talent. Throughout your professional career, there have been moments which captured us and begged the public to embrace you. You became the youngest male to reach the Wimbledon Semi-Finals since Boris Becker in 1986. You have held aloft an official ATP trophy and been ranked as high as 27th in the world.
These are all tremendous achievements, especially since they came before your 21st birthday, and I hope you're extremely proud of them.
But for all the fleeting moments of brilliance when you dare to become a fan favourite, there seems to be a controversy waiting to rear its ugly head. The majority of people immediately jump on your back, and there are times when this is warranted.
I see in you increasing evidence of a difficult, somewhat restricted growing up process, and of outside pressures inflicting serious wounds. To put it in a nutshell, the demanding regime of your teenage years unquestionably prevented you from experiencing a normal childhood.
I now look at a 21-year-old Bernard Tomic struggling to see the big picture in his tennis career. The youthful exuberance and energy of a sport you have lived and breathed has been sapped, and this begs the obvious question - do you enjoy what you do for a living?
Remember this guy? He knows a thing or two about tennis-ing. Source: AFP
PLAN AHEAD
I recently watched a very inspiring documentary featuring Andre Agassi, no doubt an idol of yours Bernie, and he made the bold statement that he would never encourage his kids to pursue professional sports as a career because you spend one third of your life not preparing for two thirds of your life.
The majority of professional sportspeople, including yours truly, reach an age at which they either burn out or retire, and are left pondering what to do with the rest of their lives.
From an outsider's perspective, your life seems pretty awesome - fast cars, bases in a ritzy part of the Gold Coast as well as the in mesmerising beauty of Monaco, glamorous women by your side (or on your lap) and millions of dollars earned in prize money and endorsements.
But like it or not, you are going to reach a point in a few years (this could be sooner, rather than later) when you question what's in store for the rest of your life. Without proper guidance and a strong support system, the unfortunate reality is that you risk depression. Urgent steps need to be taken to ensure this doesn't happen.
Bernie takes part in a hard training session. Source: Supplied
DITCH YOUR DAD (FROM YOUR ENTOURAGE)
The first step to your resurrection, as we are all aware, is to remove the intimidating presence of your father, John, from the Tomic circle. This must be a difficult thing for a young man to deal with, as John's assistance, guidance and too often dominance are all you have ever known.
You probably feel that without him, you will struggle to achieve your goals. But this is only because you've never known anything different.
Hey John. Nice to see a friendly face. Source: Getty Images
PICK A ROLE MODEL
There are so many people out there who want to see Bernard Tomic succeed, but for that to occur, you must find what brings you inner peace and most importantly, happiness. Life on the road is often hard and very monotonous, which is why it's so important to use the resources of a mentor who can steer you in the right direction.
Look at your compatriot Lleyton Hewitt. By the age of 21, he captured a US Open and Wimbledon title. He had less natural talent than you, but he also had the tenacious heart of a lion.
I believe the most admirable thing about Mr Hewitt, throughout all of his struggles with injury and self-doubt, has been the support of his loving family and his appreciation for what he does for a living. The close-knit group of people around him has helped to breathe new life into an ageing body, and I'm sure we'll see him back in the top 20 where he belongs.
Try putting a cap on backwards Bernard. It might help. Source: AFP
ENJOY YOURSELF
Bernie, you belong in the top 10, but in professional sport natural talent only takes you so far. Of course, there's dedication and the mental side of sport, both of which play a major role, but I sincerely believe your destiny will be dictated by how much you enjoy not just the sport of tennis, but life itself.
Your regular withdrawals and alleged instances of "tanking" don't scream "un-Australian" to me, they scream that the happiness is missing. Whatever walk of life you're in, it's a pretty hollow feeling if this missing ingredient can't be found.
That's more like it. Source: AP
You can read more interesting insights from Ewan Porter in his excellent book Tour Confidential: A Golfer's Life on the Global Stage .
And you can follow Ewan on Twitter here
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