- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The teenage qualifier, Bernard Tomic, at 18 years and 255 days,stands as the first youngest quarterfinalist at The Championships since Boris Becker in 1986.
His fairytale run at the Slam continued after he followed his victory over World No 5 Soderling by a straight-set demolition of 2002 semifinalist Xavier Malisse 6-1 7-5 6-4 in just 81 minutes.
This achievement has already catapulted him on to the global stage and his next danger lurks in the form of the in-form World No.2 and his hitting partner, Novak Djokovic.
With this triumph, he is all poised to take over as the #1 ranked Australian tennis ace and if the fearlessness in his approach remains intact, there’s no doubt that he is very well capable of pulling off another upset in the quarters.
It was a dominant display of tennis by the young Tomic. While committing a meager eight unforced errors, he hammered a whopping 37 winners in his one hour and 21 minute rout of the Belgian, ranked No 42 in the world.
While Malisse was complaining about his rackets and some early line calls, the Gold-Coast native was 4-0 up in a blink of an eye.
The Belgian managed to get on the scoreboard in the sixth game and was a mere spectator as Tomic wrapped up the first set in just 21 minutes.
Tomic was largely untroubled in his own service games. Though he found it harder to stamp his authority in the second set as Malisse started finding some rhythm, he conjured up a decisive break at 5-all and held serve to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
Completely unfazed by the racket smashing by his opponent after the end of the second set, he continued rattling through his own service games without a blip and broke in the ninth game of the third set with a sublime forehand winner on the run.
He successfully served out the match, and the on-court celebration included high-fives with Australian fans.
As he puts it in his own words,”Now I’ve found my game, where I need it to be, and that’s to have fun, relax out there, not play under pressure where as opposed to maybe six months ago I was playing a little bit more defensive.”
It has been an upward spiral growth for the qualifier for the past two-three weeks.
Can “Bernie” do a Becker and win the trophy? Can he bring glory back to the Australian tennis?
With optimism beaming out of this young tennis ace, its impossible to overlook the danger he poses to the men’s field.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.