Tomic looking to turn over a new leaf for 2016 season and break into top 10

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  • The 23-year-old's career-high ranking is 18.

    Bernard Tomic concedes he has made headlines for the wrong reasons this year but the talented Aussie is looking to turn a new leaf and focus on breaking into the top 10 for the first time next season.

    The 23-year-old, who made his IPTL debut yesterday for the Indian Aces in Dubai replacing Rafael Nadal, ended 2015 ranked a career-high No.18 but despite it being a solid season results-wise, Tomic once again was mixed up in controversy as he was arrested in July for refusing to leave his W South Beach hotel room in Miami after an alleged altercation with staff and police.

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    But Tomic, whose 3-6 defeat to Philipp Kohlschreiber yesterday did not stop the Aces from beating the Japan Warriors, is targeting a strong start to 2016 and wants to concentrate on having the best preparation possible. 

    When asked about his countryman Nick Kyrgios, who has also been the subject of numerous controversies throughout the season, Tomic says he understood what the younger Aussie has gone through in 2015.

    “I think we both have a bit (made headlines for the wrong reasons),” Tomic said with a hint of a smile.

    “I can feel his part also because I myself probably wasn’t in the right headlines this year. So I think I know I can understand what he’s going through. But he’s staying positive and he’s working on good things. Everyone has a different personality and different character.”

    While many players have their coaches with them here in Dubai to have their preseason training while playing the IPTL, Tomic is here alone as he got the call up for the league quite late and interrupted his training block to play the last two legs in the UAE and Singapore.

    He says he will resume training back in Australia after the IPTL concludes on December 20. 

    “I think the period now, we only have five or six days left so I’m happy to be joining (the IPTL). I’m doing as much as I can to train, to motivate myself so when I get back and have that two or three-week block I can really push myself hard,” Tomic added. 

    “People don’t realise we only have a few more weeks to go and then 2016 starts again. It’s very quick and to the players that have been playing the last two weeks that’s obviously good for them but I feel like now when I get back I need to really work the next two to three weeks to be ready…

    “I think now for 2016 I have to start strong and really play well in the Australian summer and after that just remain consistent like I was in 2015. I’d really love to get into the top 10. On paper it doesn’t look so far away, six, seven, eight spots but it’s very difficult. So I have to start winning some more bigger titles to get the opportunity to move inside the top 10.”

    On what he’ll do differently in 2016, Tomic believes the right scheduling will be key.

    “I will prepare much much better than I did for tournaments and obviously not play as many tournaments like I did this year. Because I think once you get there in that block of top 30 or top 20 you get seedings and positions, you need to be fresh for all the tournaments you play. And that’s one thing that I have to approach in 2016, be really ready for every tournament I play,” he says.

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