AUSSIE Bernard Tomic has copped heat from tennis greats after retiring from his quarter-final match at the Sydney International in controversial circumstances.

Tomic, the tournament’s top seed, withdrew while trailing Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 3-0 at the Ken Rosewall Arena.

It came after a bizarre first-set exchange with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, in which Tomic admitted his mind was on the Australian Open, not the Sydney International.

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Bernard Tomic during a break in his Sydney International match against Teymuraz Gabashvili. Source: AAP

“I have a good draw in Melbourne. It just came out,” Tomic said, referring to his first-round match-up with unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin.

World No.17 Tomic later presented a raft of excuses for his withdrawal, saying the prospect of playing two matches in one day on Friday — due to rain delays on Thursday — “doesn’t sound good for me”.

“I was just feeling a bit sick last night,” Tomic said in his post-match press-conference.

“It’s been the same thing at the hotel, a lot of fish and rice this week.”

When asked about his conversation with Lahyani, Tomic couldn’t recall details.

“I can’t remember,” he said.

“I actually can’t remember. I’m happy to answer...but I can’t remember...if you can just like maybe just tell me...I can’t remember.”

After a journalist reminded him, Tomic replied: “I told him two matches today, sick, trying to win the tournament to go up one spot. It doesn’t sound good for me, does it?”

Tomic said his preparation before the quarter-final was not ideal, and was only made worse by the prospect of playing twice in one day.

“I didn’t sleep a lot last night, a few hours, and I woke up very early because I had to come here. It was a 10.30am start and we were all here at 8am, 8.30am. With the traffic, everything was a bit complicated this morning, not feeling my greatest.

“I actually thought I was playing one match today and then I looked at the schedule again and I thought ‘Oh my God’. It’s the first time it’s happened to me I think in my career they’ve put two matches ... but this is due to a Saturday final.

“If I was 100 percent and ready and not feeling the way I was I would for sure fight on court and tried to win the match and this event.”

While trailing 2-3 in the first set, Lahyani urged the Aussie to focus on the present tournament and play on. However Tomic continued:

“I’m looking for Melbourne I’m not looking for this,” Tomic is heard saying.

“I have to make final to make (rankings) points.

“I have to make final ...

“I have to win to go to 16th.”

“Every week you do that, I know that. But don’t even think about that. Do your best,” Lahyani said.

Australian tennis greats and Channel Seven commentators Todd Woodbridge and John Fitzgerald said the incident “did not look good.”

“Well, disappointing,” Woodbridge said. “Not much more we can say about that, Fitzy. If you’re that worried, you don’t sit there and smile.

“I understand the difficulties about preparing for the Australian Open and wanting to be fresh but you’ve got responsibilities to the tour and responsibilities to the fans and the tournament. That didn’t look real good.”

Fitzgerald replied: “No, that looked horrendous”.

Disappointed TV viewers, pundits and tennis fans were quick to vent their frustration at Tomic, including Australian doubles legend Rennae Stubbs.

No offense Bernie but you're not winning the Australian Open. You might want to concentrate on winning Sydney instead. #idontunderstand — rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) January 15, 2016

A two-time finalist and previous champion at the Sydney International — winning his first ATP career title there in 2013 — Tomic had the chance to move to a career high world No.16 ranking if he made the final.

Giggling throughout the press conference, Tomic admitted he was aware of his favourable Australian Open draw before his match against Gabashvili.

“I sort of knew as I was warming up, I looked at my phone,” he said.

“I knew I was going to get the text and got the text of the draw and it was very good for me.

“So feeling sick, playing two matches today, it was going to be very difficult.

“I have to play maybe Monday there (in Melbourne). I’ve played a lot of tennis. For me the best idea was not to play. I love Sydney so much it’s just a shame I couldn’t be 100 percent today. But that’s tennis.”

Sydney tournament must be so happy with Tomic right now... You'd think at some point he'd grow up. But nope. — Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) January 15, 2016

Tomic was saying how much he loves Sydney, loves playing here and then he retires cause he just saw his draw at AO? Then don't look at draw! — Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) January 15, 2016

I would of been filthy If I had tickets to the @SydneyTennis to watch Tomic play and he pulled out like that! @FOXSportsNews #poorform — PK (@pkeevil) January 15, 2016

Still can't get my head around Tomic's conversation with Lahyani. "I've got a good draw in Melbourne" Then retires in 2nd set v Gabashvili — Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) January 15, 2016

Bernie was never interested in this match, having already seen his good AO draw, and he doesn't bother to finish. Retires, off to Melbourne. — Katie Bee (@breakpointsaved) January 15, 2016