When you read about an Ozzie tennis player being a tosser it’s usually Nick Kyrgios, who has a pretty impressive rap sheet in this regard.

From insulting the girlfriend of opponent Stan Wawrinka (HERE) to refusing to return serves at Wimbledon (HERE), he’s less lovable rogue and more complete and utter wanker.

This time though it’s compatriot Bernard Tomic, who himself boasts a decent record of on-court knobbery, with a filthy outburst at a U.S. Open spectator.

The Guardian with the full story:

On-court microphones on the Old Grandstand court where the 17th-seeded Tomic lost 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0) caught his response to an animated crowd member as Džumhur served for the first set.

“Suck my balls,” the 23-year-old Australian chirped, forcing his opponent to stop his service motion. “I will put my balls in your mouth.”

After Džumhur missed on his first serve, Tomic pressed on toward the heckler: “I will give you some money to make you feel good.”

Well isn’t that just charming.

When the match finished, Džumhur running out the victor, Tomic did his best to try and avoid what could be a hefty fine:

“I apologised to what I said to him,” he said. “He definitely baited me the whole set for me to say that. But I do apologise. If there were people around that heard, yeah, that’s all I can say.

“I think after he left the first set, I think the crowd got happy he left because he was a bit annoying. But it’s okay.”

“It was the same sort of voice. He was just sort of saying negative stuff. I didn’t know who it was because I was just focusing on the court. It was tough to figure out in the background. It’s passed and I don’t really care who this guy is.”

Sounds like a classic ‘sorry, not sorry’ apology – case in point:

When asked whether he thought he’d crossed the line with his remarks, Tomic diverted responsibility.

“I’d like to see what the microphone picked up what he said,” he said. “But that might not be possible.”

Fancy a little lesson in getting under someone’s skin without talking about balls in mouths, Bernard? Here’s former Protea Mark Boucher dishing it out to Zimbabwe ‘keeper Tatenda Taibu:

Harsh but fair.

[source:guardian]