A tennis miscellany compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN

Code violation: Tomic out

Irish umpire Fergus Murphy issued 19-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic with a code violation as the Australian crashed out of Wimbledon, losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to Belgian David Goffin in a first round clash yesterday.

Tomic – who in reaching the quarter-final at Wimbledon last year became the youngest male player to do so since Boris Becker in 1985 – won the first set but thereafter he started to unravel mentally and physically, and to release his frustration smashed his racquet until he mangled the frame. Murphy issued the player with a code violation for racquet abuse.

It was Tomic’s third first round loss in successive tournaments and raised one or two question-marks about his temperament as he appeared to lose heart during the match in terms of not running for some drop shots. His defeat and that of Leyton Hewitt means there will be no Australian in the second round of the men’s singles for the first time since 1938.

Magnificent seven: Federer looking to join Sampras

Roger Federer’s appeal remains vibrant both on an off the court. Today Italy’s Fabio Fognini is expected to be churned out in the wash, relegated to statistical jetsam, as the Swiss world number three navigates his progresses to the third round.

As befits a six-time champion at the All England club, circumspection in ambition isn’t required. It doesn’t matter that the last of his 16 Grand Slam victories was the 2010 Australian Open or that Tomas Berdych (2010) and Jo-Wilfried Songa (2011) proved impenetrable barriers in the last two Wimbledon tournaments; or that it’s 2009 since he last claimed the title.

Federer retains a singular focus that is dominating his thoughts day and night. “A seventh would be amazing. That would be tying Pete (Sampras) which I think would be absolutely fantastic. I am dreaming of the title. I want to do better, have to in this event. I could have gone further the last couple (of years). Maybe the other guys were just too good. Maybe I wasn’t quite at my best. Who knows what the combination was?”

There are other numbers that have a certain appeal. If he was to win at Wimbledon he would take over as world number one from Novak Djokovic. At 30 years of age, titles are the only currency that matters anymore. Money has long ceased to be a consideration.

He is the highest ranked tennis player, at number five, in the Forbes compiled list of the richest sportsmen in the world behind, in order, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquaio, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. In tennis terms, his nearest rivals are Rafael Nadal (16th) and Maria Sharapova (26th).

Between June 2011 and June 2012 his total income was €42,203,892, comprising of €6,166,413 in salary/earnings and a whopping €36,037,479 in endorsements from a portfolio of sponsors including Nike, Rolex, Wilson and Credit Suisse.

The most important figure though for Federer doesn’t contain any commas and is represented is a single digit; 7.

Olympics: All set for Games

Just 20 days after the men’s singles champion is crowed on Sunday week, the opening match of the London 2012 Olympics will take place Wimbledon.

The courts will be reseeded during that three week gap, the entrance gates will have to be reoriented and the traditional colours of the All England club, purple and green, will be stripped from the hoardings to be replaced by the colours of the London games. Rafael Nadal will defend his Olympic title in the singles, but there will be a new gold medallist in the women’s event as the 2008 champion Elena Dementieva has retired since Beijing.

Yesterday, it was confirmed eight British players will compete at the tournament. Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha will play in the singles, while Laura Robson and Heather Watson team up for doubles. Andy Murray was the only man to qualify for singles, and will play in the doubles with his brother Jamie, along with Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins.