Rafael Nadal Jokes ‘Close The Bar’ When He Hears Bernard Tomic Is Joining His Indian Aces Tennis Team

Gold Coast tennis star Bernard Tomic’s partying tendencies are the butt of a joke by Rafael Nadal — but Tomic’s local trainer insists he’s r...

Gold Coast tennis star Bernard Tomic’s partying tendencies are the butt of a joke by Rafael Nadal — but Tomic’s local trainer insists he’s ready to work hard to make the top 10.

In video footage this week, Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal reacts to hearing Tomic will join his Indian Aces team by incredulously saying “Bernard?” and then burying his face in his hands.

Crossfit Gold Coast owner and Bernard Tomic’s local personal trainer Jeremy Austin (left) says the tennis star is maturing despite his party boy reputation - here the pair are pictured training ahead of the 2015 season a year ago at Crossfit Gold Coast in Bundall. Picture: Mike Batterham

Nadal then jokes to teammates: “Close the bar during the night.”

Crossfit Gold Coast owner Jeremy Austin, who has been Tomic’s personal trainer for five years, is brushing off Nadal’s joke, saying his 23-year-old charge is maturing all the time.

“For the past five years I’ve known him I’ve seen him stepping it up. Now he’s realised he was going to be in the top 20 things are starting to happen.

“You’ll see a different person come not just Brisbane and Sydney but the Aussie Open too.”

The only bars Tomic is allowed near when he’s training with Crossfit Gold Coast owner Jeremy Austin (right). Picture: Mike Batterham

Party boy Tomic had his most consistent year on tour in 2015, rising from the mid-70s to top 20. His ranking soared despite off-court drama including his arrest at a Miami hotel suite in July after a party noise complaint. He was later cleared of any charges. On the Gold Coast he counts Sin City and Vanity nightclub owner Jamie Pickering as a close friend and in 2013 was infamously photographed shirtless and getting a lapdance in Sin City.

But of a six-week stint with Tomic in Europe in the lead up to Wimbledon this year, Austin said there was no partying: “I was with him every single minute of every day. We watched a lot of movies. We didn’t socialise once. It was just business.

“I don’t know if he got sick of me or not but we worked very hard for six weeks straight. And he got the results and did really well.”

Australia's Bernard Tomic has been in Dubai this week playing for the Micromax Indian Aces - here he returns the ball to Croatia's Ivo Karlovic of Philippine Mavericks during the men's singles match in their International Premier Tennis League (IPTL). AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB

Tomic, now ranked 18, said this week in a bid to make the top 10 he’ll play fewer tournaments in 2016 and prepare much better.

However, Austin said Tomic’s departure to the Indian Aces has disrupted their training schedule at his Bundall gym and they’ll have to “ramp it up” when he gets back later this month.

“We’re going to have to try and fit in as much as we can before he goes off to Brisbane. He was supposed to start at the gym a few weeks back.”

Austin said Tomic had likely joined the Indian Aces — after originally turning it down — for quality hitting on court and not the money: “They did throw $200,000 at him and he knocked it back at first. It’s not about money for him, it’s all about getting top 10.

“He’s hitting against better opponents over there which is really good as opposed to just hitting over here.”

Tomic starts his 2016 season at the Brisbane International on January 3.

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