I was never available for Davis Cup: Tomic

6 Dec 2012, 6:53 pm   -   Source: AAP
Bernard Tomic has reportedly been dropped from Australia's Davis Cup side due to his poor attitude. (AAP)

Bernard Tomic has reportedly been dropped from Australia's Davis Cup side due to his poor attitude. (AAP)

Bernard Tomic insists he never planned to play in Australia's Davis Cup tie in February and he's taking on board advice from Sam Stosur.

Bernard Tomic has hit back at reports he was left out of Australia's Davis Cup team due to attitude issues.

Tennis Australia director of tennis Craig Tiley was quoted on Thursday as saying Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter won't consider Tomic for the tie against Taiwan while questioning the 20-year-old's commitment to representing his country.

But Tomic later refuted the claims, insisting he told Rafter he was never available for the February clash and would instead be focusing on ATP events in the United States.

"I was never meant to play that Davis Cup tie," Tomic told the Ten Network.

"I spoke to Pat (about that).

"I'm going to use that time for training and to prepare for tournaments in America."

Australia's most recent grand slam winner, Sam Stosur, believes it's time for Tomic to "knuckle down" if he's going to have any chance of fulfilling his enormous potential.

When asked what advice she would give the under-fire Tomic, Stosur said he must ask himself some tough questions if he's going to bounce back from a dismal end to the year when his ranking slid from No.27 in June to No.52.

"What are you doing? Are you wanting to play tennis?," Stosur queried in Sydney.

"If you are, then give it 100 per cent because you only get one crack at it.

"He's going to have to decide what he wants to do and how he's going to approach his career.

"Until that improves in a lot of people's eyes, he's going to have to deal with things like being dropped out of the Davis Cup team."

Stosur added it would be unfortunate to witness Tomic's undoubted talent go to waste.

"That's probably the most disappointing thing for a lot of people on the outside - that he's got this unbelievable tennis ability and he's not really using it at the moment," said the 28-year-old world No.9.

"So I think everyone would like to see him knuckle down and do his best and see where that gets him."

Tomic responded positively to the words of wisdom from the 2011 US Open champion, who is about to head into her 14th year on the WTA tour.

"I'm young and I'm learning. You get to a point where you need to stop and I think it's a good bit of advice," said Tomic.

"I'm working really hard and trying to push myself to become the best tennis player I can be.

"I've had a slippery slope the last year. It's changing me and I'll prove I'm going to be the best-ever player one day to play this game."

Tomic will get the chance to start proving the doubters wrong when he represents Australia at the Hopman Cup in Perth later this month.

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