Tomic trading Open tips with Jankovic

 

By Sam Lienert, 22 Jan 2012

Tagged:

 Australian Open, Bernard Tomic, Tennis

2 Have your say

Email

Bernard Tomic has been trading tactical tips in Serbian with Jelena Jankovic as they both prepare for daunting Australian Open singles matches on Sunday night.

The Australian teenager, of Balkan descent, took to the mixed doubles court with former world No.1 Jankovic on Saturday.

Their 50-minute 6-1 6-3 first-round win over Australian pair Ben Mitchell and Ashleigh Barty was a relaxed, enjoyable affair.

While Jankovic was the only non-Australian on show court two, she still revelled in the atmosphere as the large, festive crowd sang songs – the Serb nominated “We Like to Party” as her favourite – and cheered enthusiastically.

But Jankovic said talk also turned to the more serious matters of her impending clash with world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and Tomic’s showdown with 16-time grand slam winner Roger Federer, to be played back-to-back in Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.

Although she was not about to give a hint of either player’s gameplan.

“We speak in Serbian, because (not) anybody can understand,” she said.

“But there are certain things, if he tells me, ‘I’m going to play like that and that,’ you don’t want to say that for the newspapers.

“It’s our talk and between the players.”

Jankovic said she would be keeping an eye on how the young Australian fared, while preparing for her own match.

But she sounded more hopeful than confident when asked about Tomic’s prospects against Federer.

“He’s playing the all-time great, Roger, so it’s a really tough opponent,” the Serb star said.

“It’s going to be a good match. For him, he has the whole crowd behind him.

“Bernard is a young player with great potential and he’s going to try his best and we’ll see what happens.”

She said their decision to play doubles together had been based mainly on the expectation it would be fun and neither would treat it too seriously.

The 26-year-old said she viewed Tomic almost like a younger brother.

“He’s a nice young talented man. He’s pretty fun to be with on the court … we get along pretty well.”

The Turkey 10

The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.

Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!

Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.

Find out more.