Bernard Tomic says his new tennis coach is developing a good early bond with his controversial father John.

The 21-year-old Australian No.1 appointed Croatian Velimir Zovko as his interim mentor for 2014, following his coach Tomic Snr’s indefinite suspension from the ATP Tour after he was charged with assaulting Tomic’s training partner in May.

Tomic said Zovko arrived in Australia last week and was getting along well with the team.

“He’s starting to get into a good bond with my dad and team,” Tomic told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program on Monday.

“It’s still important to have my dad there. He’s the one that brought me up and we spent a lot of time together.

“It’s very difficult for me to let him go. He knows what’s best for me and my tennis.

“Obviously this new coach is going to take his role and help out with my dad.”

Tomic is preparing for a busy home summer of tennis, representing Australia in the Hopman Cup in Perth then defending his Sydney International title in the lead up to the Australian Open in January.

Currently ranked No.51, Tomic is eyeing a spot inside the world top 20 in the new season, conceding his target of a top-10 ranking this year was unrealistic.

“It’s difficult to get into that group now, so maybe top 20 is a reasonable goal,” he said.

Tomic has won one ATP title – at Sydney in January – after three full years on tour.

The enigmatic youngster, wearing a t-shirt reading `Always causing a racquet’, admitted he still had some growing up to do to be consistently successful at the top level.

“I’m trying as best as I can and sometimes it comes out the wrong way, which is not good to see,” he said when asked about being photographed shirtless in a Gold Coast nightclub last month.

“You’ve always got to think about what you’re doing and what the consequences are. Sometimes I don’t think like that.

“I’ve got to become a little bit more wiser and I think mature a little bit more.”