Australian Open director Craig Tiley has reached out to Bernard Tomic, offering "health and wellbeing" support at a time when the career of the struggling tennis star is at the crossroads.
Tiley said on Tuesday the sport's governing body was doing all it could to help Tomic but there was only so much that could be done for a man who has pocketed more than $5 million in prizemoney.
"We have reached out to Bernie from a health and wellbeing point of view and it's up to him to respond," he said. "As far as a wildcard, it's pretty early, and Lleyton and Wally will make that call and we will defer to what their decision is.
"He has been talking to Lleyton. We have been reaching out to him ... he is in a tough place right now. His ranking has dropped and he is struggling – we have all seen it. Our job as a federation is to make sure we have a team of people there to support beyond tennis and that is where we are at.
"He hasn't been able to convert the points he needs to get direct entry into the Australian Open. We are used to having him in that position [qualified] so he will need to rely on some help getting in. I will let Lleyton and Wally make that decision, which they do for the wildcards."
However, Tiley said neither Tomic nor his team had responded to TA's offer, leaving the tennis world guessing at what the under-achieving Queenslander will do next.
"Bernie ... we know the talent he has. He has certainly shown it out here. Obviously, it's his goals, it's his career, it's his objectives – we are going to provide whatever opportunity we can to provide him with the health and wellbeing support," he said.
"We would like to see him take up the offer and continue to work on advancing his career. Often players will go on that 'up and down' and he is probably in a down phase.
"My reference to health and wellbeing – that is where we are willing to offer help. Independently, he has got his own career, he has got his own team. Tennis Australia provide support when you are young, growing up. Now he is a professional player, he needs to provide his own support.
"But what we provide ongoing is – our athlete department has a group of people that support athletes that need help. I don't know if Bernie does – I am just saying we have made that offer for him."
Our job as a federation is to make sure we have a team of people there to support beyond tennis and that is where we are at.
TA director Craig Tiley on Bernard Tomic.
