adminSYDNEY. — Pat Rafter stepped down as Tennis Australia’s head of performance yesterday, ending his rocky relationship with the country’s two polarising stars Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic.
After two years in the role, Rafter has been replaced by his deputy and former Davis Cup captain and coach Wally Masur.
Masur will have the task of bringing the Tomic family back into the fold after relations soured under Rafter.Tomic made himself unavailable for a Davis Cup tie this month against the Czech Republic, citing scheduling issues.
Reports said Tomic’s father John had a bitter ongoing feud over his son and daughter Sara involving funding from Tennis Australia.
Last month at the Australian Open Rafter, a former world number one and two-time US Open champion, admitted he had little input into the direction of the country’s top two players.Rafter stepped down as Davis Cup captain in early 2015 following a turbulent time dealing with Tomic, while Kyrgios once tweeted: “Another negative comment out of Rafters mouth. Does this guy ever stop #everyoneisaworkinprogress.”
Rafter said recently that he preferred to leave Tomic and Kyrgios alone.
“I haven’t really been speaking to them very much and I don’t really know where they’re at,” Rafter said.
“I just sit back and watch from a distance. I don’t really have a lot to offer them.
“If they ever want to talk to me, I’m happy to talk.”Kyrgios and Tomic have frequently fallen foul of tennis authorities and have a love-hate relationship with the public.
Kyrgios (21) was fined for swearing and throwing his racquet in a spectacular meltdown at last month’s Australian Open, when he threw away a two-set lead to bow out in the second round against Andreas Seppi. — AFP.
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