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Bernard Tomic fined $20,000 after revealing post-match interview

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London: Bernard Tomic has been slapped with the second-largest single fine in Wimbledon history and also lost one of his major sponsors as the fallout from his shocking first-round antics continue.

The Grand Slam Committee fined Tomic $US15,000 ($A19,760) for unsportsmanlike conduct after the Australian admitted to feigning injury to take a strategic medical time-out during his 6-4 6-3 6-4 opening round loss to German Mischa Zverev.

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Wimbledon 2017: 'bored' Bernard Tomic's defeat

Lacklustre Aussie star crashes out of Wimbledon with a first-round loss to Mischa Zverev.

The world No.59 pretended to have a back injury and called for the trainer midway through the second set, but opted not to take any medication.

"I just tried to break a bit of momentum but just couldn't find any rhythm and, you know, wasn't mentally and physically there with my mental state to perform," Tomic said.

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Tomic was sanctioned for unsportsmanlike conduct by the Grand Slam Committee after confessing he pretended to have a back problem to slow down the progress of Germany's Mischa Zverev on Tuesday.

The Queenslander also sensationally admitted he was bored and only playing tennis for the money. Tomic was fined $US15,000 ($A19,745).

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The maximum fine for unsportsmanlike conduct is $US20,000 ($26,500) with the committee setting the punishment in conjunction with Wimbledon tournament referee Andrew Jarrett.

Tomic's fine represents around a third of the roughly $US60,000 ($79, 000) prize money he received for his lame 84-minute cameo at the 131st championships.

But he stands to lose significantly more after his racquet sponsor Head on Thursday controversially dumped the 24-year-old - despite sticking with Maria Sharapova through her doping ban.

"We were extremely disappointed with the statements made at Wimbledon by one of our sponsored athletes, Bernard Tomic," the manufacturer said in a statement.

"His opinions 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's decision comes three years after management giant IMG cut ties with the former teenage prodigy who was earmarked for superstardom after winning two the Australian Open junior titles at just 15 and the US Open boys' singles at 16.

The hefty fine came as tennis legend John Newcombe feared Tomic was close to a mental breakdown and will end up broke if he doesn't seek help.

As fans and other greats of the game lash the 24-year-old for his lame first-round Wimbledon loss and post-match confession that he was bored and only playing for money, Newcombe expressed sympathy for Tomic.

"It's one of those cases, someone in that state, they probably need to hit rock-bottom before they can fully appreciate the position," said the triple Wimbledon champion.

"Tennis Australia has programs and I understand they'll try to reach out to him to see if he wants help to get himself adjusted.

"I'm told by the younger players that he can't play more than a set-and-a-half at full pace before he's tired. He's that unfit.

"So if he keeps going like this, he's just going to drift and drift and drift.

"He'd be out of the top 100 now and pretty soon he'll be lucky to get into satellite tournaments."

Former world No.1 Mats Wilander said Tomic should be applauded for his honesty, not ostracised.

Tomic was hit by a barrage of criticism for saying he was bored during his first-round loss to German veteran Mischa Zverev at Wimbledon.

His comments irked a number of ex-players including Martina Navratilova, who said it was time he looked for a new job, and six-time grand slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs said Tomic was an embarrassment to himself and to Australian tennis.

But Wilander, in London leading Eurosport's coverage of Wimbledon, said Tomic was only saying out loud what many players feel.

"Everybody jumped on one or two sentences, that is all. But he is just trying to explain how he feels ... what is going on. I guarantee you every single player here at Wimbledon feels or has felt like Tomic is saying he feels," the Swede said.

"I really appreciate that he was honest about it."

Wilander says he experienced similar losses of motivation during his career and believes more honesty is needed to confront these issues.

"We need more honesty out there, but it is hard when you see what the media does to someone who is trying to be honest," he said.

"Are you saying that Andy Murray was not emotionally flat for some of this year? And I think it is exactly how Novak Djokovic was at the French Open.

"Everybody gets bored or rather emotionally flat sometimes, but most players are not so honest as Tomic. They have sponsors that need to be happy and they want to keep the Tour happy."

Tomic said he'd lost the motivation to perform even on sport's biggest stages.

Newcombe described the fallen star as a lost soul and said the former teenage prodigy was suffering from his decision to exile himself from Davis Cup.

"I've always found Bernie a nice young bloke," said the former world No.1.

"He's his own worst enemy. He's played some great Davis Cup matches for Australia. He elected not to play this year, so I think that was probably not good for him.

"[Being] around the team atmosphere probably would have been good for him.

"Unless he gets help and helps himself, nothing good is going to happen in the next 12 months."

A long-time patriarch of Australian tennis, Newcombe believes Tomic is delusional in believing he has a decade left on tour and also comparing himself to Roger Federer – as he bizarrely did when offering to return his prizemoney if the Swiss superstar did.

"If he keeps going like this, within a year he's going to hit complete rock-bottom and he'll run out of money," Newcombe said.

"So when does the penny drop?"

Contrary to popular opinion, Newcombe believes Tomic may benefit from a coaching reunion with his demanding and controversial father John, who has been assisting his tennis-playing daughter Sara.

"I don't know it personally, but I understand he's not having a lot to do with his father now and it's been a very authoritarian rule and maybe his father has to come back into the picture," he said.

"Maybe he'll respond to that.

"It's always a great shame when you see a talented young athlete destroying themselves.

"But it's his life. He makes his choices."

Tomic wasn't the only player hit hard on Thursday, with Russian Daniil Medvedev receiving three fines totalling $US14,500 ($19, 128) for his coin-throwing episode.

Livid after umpire Mariana Alves made five over-rules in his opponent's favour, Medvedev tossed the coins below the Portuguese's chair following his 6-4 6-2 3-6 2-6 6-3 loss to Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans.

He apologised in his post-match press conference.

AAP

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