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The new and improved Bernard Tomic faces a test of his class and mettle on Sunday as he pursues a watershed Australian Open win.
Tomic and teenage ace Nick Kyrgios, Davis Cup teammates and part-time doubles partners, are each bidding to become the first Australians since Lleyton Hewitt a decade ago to reach the men’s singles quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.
While Kyrgios enters his fourth-round battle with Andreas Seppi an even-money prospect, Tomic is the undoubted underdog against Czech powerhouse Tomas Berdych.
Hewitt ranks Berdych, a former Wimbledon runner-up who boasts semi-final appearances at all four majors, as the biggest talent yet to land a grand slam title.
Tomic has first-hand experience of Berdych’s lethal weapons, gunned down in two tight four-set shootouts at Wimbledon, including last year.
“He’s a very, very good player,” Tomic said.
“He’s been at the top for many years. I have to come to this match to play my tennis, and then I have a chance.”
Australia’s one-time boy wonder has shown a steely resolve and newfound maturity in surging into the last 16 with a minimum of fuss.
He’s dropped only one set in three matches, clinically removing power-serving countryman Sam Groth from the draw on Friday after fashioning a fighting second-round win over tough German seed Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Although it was an exhibition event, Tomic is also drawing confidence from a defeat of Berdych at neighbouring Kooyong and says he learnt a lot from last year’s loss to the Czech at the All England Club, where four of their eight sets have gone to tiebreakers.
In a far cry from his infamous Wimbledon practice snubbing of Hewitt six years ago, Tomic enlisted the former No.1 as a hitting partner on Saturday, eager to tap into one of the most astute brains in tennis.
“I respect him so much,” Tomic said.
Tomic has fired down 57 aces and landed a tournament-best 73 per cent of his first deliveries in his first three matches and knows his under-rated serve will be key to combating Berdych’s sledgehammer forehand.
“You have to serve well. He hits the ball so fricking hard,” Tomic said.
“It’s a big difference to any other player.
“But I felt like I used the matches I played in the past against him and can take it into this match as much as I can.
“I’ll prepare as much as I can. There’s opportunity for me. So we’ll see.”
Tomic is guaranteed a return to the world’s top 50 win or lose.
But victory would thrust the Queenslander into a blockbuster quarter-final against Rafael Nadal, a year after his retirement one set into his much-hyped clash with the world No.1 in Melbourne with an injury that led to double hip surgery.
Berdych is treating Tomic with due respect, acknowledging their tight tussles at Wimbledon, but says he’s happy to play the party pooper role in front of Australian fans desperate for a new title challenger to emerge.
“I’ve never played an Aussie guy here, but I don’t see a big deal about it,” Berdych said.
“I’m quite experienced with all of those Davis Cup matches and playing French guys in France and stuff like that.
“The crowd here is very well educated in tennis – even though they’re going to be on his side, it’s going to be all right.
“I’m looking forward to it actually.”
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