Bernard Tomic wants a comeback: "I poured blood, sweat and tears into this sport”

Often controversial but rarely dull, Bernard Tomic is gearing up for yet another attempt to reestablish his career.

The 29-year-old isn't currently ranked in the Top 250, but reached a career-high ranking of No. 17 in 2016 and while still in his teens, he got to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Yet the skilled ball-striker has also been fined for lack of effort, gotten in trouble for unruly partying, and hit back at criticism with attention-grabbing comments.

But in a recent interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin and a video on social media, Tomic says that some of the problems were because there was too much success when he was young. Now he’s looking to start again.

"Everything arrived at me. Travel, daytime, daytime tournaments," Tomic said. "There are a lot of things I shouldn’t have said, but I did.

"I’m going to turn this around and give myself the best chance in the next few years. There’s another chance for this. I’ll try it myself. Now it’s all about getting it right, making good cracks in the next five or six years, and trying to get back to the top."

He says he's also taking a different approach to the public scrutiny he gets.

I’m going to turn this around and give myself the best chance in the next few years. Bernard Tomic

"I had a lot of hatred in my life, but I can’t give up," Tomic said. "You don’t think I saw the hateful comment. It hurts. Previously, I had it delivered to me and reacted from stupidity. But now I’m using it as fuel. I’m back. I’m hungry and ready. Now no one can stop me, but I am.

"I’m training, sweating, pushing, excited. Whatever I need to get back to the top. Hard work pays off. I poured blood, sweat and tears into this sport. I’m back, so it’s time to set a record."

Unlikely to receive a wildcard into the men's draw, No. 259-ranked Tomic will need to compete in Australian Open qualifying.