Wimbledon 2017: Bruno Soares critical as HEAD drop Bernard Tomic but stick with Maria Sharapova
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Updated 07/07/2017 at 11:10 GMT
Bruno Soares says it is “interesting to read” that tennis manufacturer HEAD dropped Bernard Tomic after his “bored” comments, despite sticking with Maria Sharapova following her doping ban last year.
Bruno Soares, Bernard Tomic, Maria Sharapova
Image credit: Getty Images
HEAD maintained their support for the Russian after she tested positive for meldonium, and tweeted their support for her in October after her ban was reduced.
Now back on the women’s circuit, Sharapova continues to be sponsored by HEAD, though the company opted to end their association with Tomic following his first-round Wimbledon exit to Mischa Zverev – after which the Australian stated he “wasn't mentally and physically there to perform”, and “felt a little bit bored out there”.
Soares, who is playing alongside Jamie Murray in the men’s’ doubles at the All England Club, was critical of HEAD’s decision to drop Tomic.
The tweet reads:
Interesting to read that a brand stops w a player after he says he's struggling w motivation but fully supports another that admits doping.
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Bernard Tomic after his first-round loss
Image credit: Getty Images
Meanwhile, HEAD released the following statement on Thursday regarding Tomic:
We were extremely disappointed with the statements made at Wimbledon by one of our sponsored athletes, Bernard Tomic. His opinions in no way reflect our own attitude for tennis, our passion, professionalism and respect for the game. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue our collaboration with Bernard Tomic.
HEAD faced a backlash after tweeting their support for Sharapova in October, while CEO Johan Eliasch said at the time that the 30-year-old was “an upstanding individual”.
“It is wholly unfair Maria, an upstanding individual of the highest moral and ethical conduct, was banned from playing competitive tennis while not actively engaging in any behaviors [sic] that could be considered cheating,” Eliasch said in October’s statement.
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