To describe Bernard Tomic as tennis' Mario Balotelli is probably a little unfair on the Italian such is the Aussie's propensity to hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The 21-year-old, who takes on Rafael Nadal in the first round of the Australian Open, is seen as a player with great potential that has yet to be realized.

But thus far his career has been blighted by controversy and his father's actions have also added fuel to the fire...

• Tomic has a feud with his fellow Aussie former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt that dates back to 2009. The younger man allegedly snubbed the veteran after Hewitt had asked if Tomic was available for hitting practice. Tomic eventually turned down the invitation and reportedly believed that "Lleyton's not good enough". Tomic later blamed a swine flu infection for his decision to turn Hewitt down. 
• In January 2012, Australian police issued him with three traffic infringements all within the same day and later claimed that one of the arresting officers wanted to hit him. In January 2013 his driving licence was revoked after he was caught speeding.
• Tennis Australia dropped him from their Davis Cup team in December 2012 due to his off-court behaviour.
• Two months before that he and a friend got into a fight at a rooftop jacuzzi with police intervening. 
• In March of that year, he asked the umpire to remove his father from the stands at the Miami Masters. Tomic was heard describing him as "annoying".

• In May 2013, his father, John, attacked his hitting partner Thomas Drouet, breaking his nose with a headbutt. Drouet was left worse for wear and he also accused John of attacking Bernard. Tomic Sr was banned from the French Open and Wimbledon in 2013.

• Tomic was pictured partying and receiving a lapdance from two dancers during Australia's Schoolies Week (equivalent to post-Leaving Cert parties). It saw the Australian press brand him as a "toolie" (the name given to older people who take part in school-leavers parties).