Pat Rafter feuds with Tomic clan over cash
Pat Rafter is locked in a tense war of words with Bernard Tomicâs father John, just days out from Wimbledon.
Rafter has come under fire from Mr Tomic because Tennis Australia has withdrawn funding for his daughter (Bernardâs sister) Sara.
In his new position as Tennis Australiaâs player performance director, Rafter decides who receives funding. He believes âridiculous amountsâ of money has already gone to the Tomicâs and has decided Sara will have no ongoing support.
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âWeâre not funding Sara, which is a bit of a shame for Sara.â Rafter said. âI think sheâs a great girl and she has a very good rapport with a lot of TA staff and she always comes across as friendly.
âBut unfortunately she is getting roped in because we are not going to tolerate Johnâs behaviour.â
âWeâve talked amongst our team and we have decided we are now not going to support kids whose parents are vocally against everything weâre trying to do.
Rafter revealed his tough stance after John Tomic accused TA of providing âzero supportâ for 17-year-old Sara, the world number 690, and Bernard accepted a wildcard into a tournament in the USA at the same time as Australiaâs Davis Cup tie in Darwin from July 17.
Mr Tomic told News Corp: âOn which basis can he (Rafter) cut funding in Australia? It is not his private companyâ.
âIt means money will be left in TA budget that he can use for his self and all administration.
âWhy he did not cut TA administration (and) their high expenses overseas â hotels, first class flight tickets, food.
Rafter quit his position as Davis Cup captain to take on his new role in February and is intent on changing the culture within Australian tennis and says âfinancially stableâ elite players will no longer be funded.
âSo, yeah, we do play god a little bit, but I think thatâs the way itâs got to be done,â the former world number one said.
âIt is a bit dictatorial, however itâs done within a team environment and I believe in it.
Rafter said he had the full support of Davis Cup captain Wally Masur, coach Josh Eagle, Fed Cup skipper Alicia Molik, the head of womenâs player development Nicole Pratt and TAâs human relations department.
â with ABC
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