Bernard Tomic starts his Australian summer campaign tonight as he faces big hitting American, Sam Querrey, in the first round of the Brisbane International. Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from around 10:00pm AEDT.
After a strong finish to 2014, which included a title win in Bogota and a semi-final at Stockholm, Tomic returns to his home event looking for more success.
This year’s appearance by Tomic is his first since 2012 when he made his first ever semi-final in the ATP. He will be looking to go on a similar run this week in his return to the event.
A good run this week, and next week in Sydney, could make Tomic the number 1 Australian again.
With the latest rankings released this morning, Tomic is Australia’s new number 2, with Hewitt going from 1st to 4th.
With Tomic losing 150 points this week because of his run at the Sydney International last year, Tomic will need to score 183 points more than Kyrgios in the next two weeks to be the new number 1 before the Australian Open.
His quest to do that starts tonight against the world number 35, and American, Sam Querrey.
Querrey, who is making his 4th appearance in Brisbane, has struggled to make a mark in the event. His best appearance was last year when he made the second round of the event.
In his other two appearances he lost in the first round. After falling to 78 in the world at the end of June, Querrey had a fantastic end to season 2014.
He won 24 of his last 27 matches for the year and made the third round of the US Open. Querrey also won three Challenger events in Napa, Sacramento and Tiburon. He will be a tough opponent for Tomic with his big power game.
Head-to-head the duo have faced each other twice in the ATP. Both matches have come at the Grand Slam level and both were won by the Australian.
At the Australian Open in 2012, Tomic won their first match in a four set encounter. In 2013, at Wimbledon, Tomic won in five sets after leading by two sets to love in the match.
While the Australian has won both matches, the contests between the two have been tight. I expect a similar contest tonight.
At times tonight both players will be on top of their opponent. This is because of the contrasting styles of each player’s game.
Querrey, who has a power game, will try to blast each ball for a winner. Tomic will use both power and precision to win points.
At times he will hit from the baseline and try to out power his opponent. In other points he will use slice and spin in his shots to force his opponents into mistakes.
It is this variety of game that makes Tomic fascinating to watch because of his unpredictability.
It can also provide plenty of momentum shifts in the match. I expect that tonight will contain plenty of them.
This is a match Tomic can win. He will feed off the home crowd and use that to his advantage.
I predict he will win because of that.
While he may get some boos after his Australian Open retirement last year, he should still get a big lift from the crowd.
He will also be looking to make amends for that retirement which attracted plenty of media attention.
It may take three sets for Tomic to win but I expect him to start the season in style with a big win first up.
Prediction: Bernard Tomic 2-1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is it from me tonight. I hope you enjoyed the coverage of the match between Tomic and Querrey. I appreciate you staying up as well to stay on this blog. I'll be back tomorrow with more tennis. Until then it is bye for now.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
THOUGHTS - Tomic won 9 more points than Querrey in the match tonight. The final count was 78 to 69 for the Australian. Those 9 points would have come at critical times in the match because Tomic delivered when it counted. That was the difference in the match. When it became clutch, and both players were put under pressure, Tomic delivered when it counted. It happened in the first set and again in the second. In the first, Tomic fought back from 5-3 down in the set, to win it 7-5. During the opening stages of the set, Querrey was strong. He was powerful on serve and powerful in his ground strokes. He even served 5 aces in a row during the set. When the pressure came though, Querrey struggled and Tomic took over. The Aussie would win 16 of the next 17 points to win the set as Querrey struggled on his 1st serve. In the second set, Querrey also struggled with the pressure. This came in the tiebreaker at 5-5. On serve, Querrey couldn't find a first serve, and Tomic won the point. He then wrapped up the victory which is his third over the American. Tomic played well tonight. He looked fit, lean, and ready to play. His forehand was also brilliant tonight. He hit plenty of winners on it. Tomic will be happy with his performance. He now has to focus on Thanasi in the second round. That match will be an absolute beauty. Tonight though, Tomic started in the right way, with a solid win over Sam Querrey.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Match Stats - Aces - Tomic 5 Querrey 20 Double Faults - Tomic 0 Querrey 3 1st serve % - Tomic 60% Querrey 60% 1st serve points won - Tomic 36/46 Querrey 35/42 2nd serve points won - Tomic 21/31 Querrey 14/28 Break Points saved - Tomic 4/5 Querrey 4/6
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Querrey hits his forehand long and Tomic wins. Bernard Tomic defeats Sam Querrey 7-5 7-6 in the 1st round of the Brisbane International. The time is 12:05 in Queensland. Tomic now faces Thanasi Kokkinakis in the 2nd round. Excellent.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
A cracking forehand winner gives Tomic his first match point. 6-5 Tomic.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
A good first serve wins the next point for Querrey. 5-5.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
It is IN. Tomic leads 5-4.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Ace by Tomic. It is being challenged by Querrey.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
4-4 as Querrey puts the ball into the net.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
4-3 Querrey. He punches a nice forehand winner down the line.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Ace for Querrey 3-3 as the players chance ends.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Tomic produces a good 1st serve to win the next point. 3-2 Tomic.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
A long rally in the fourth point of the tiebreaker. Tomic wins the point after Querrey hits a ball long.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Tomic leads Querrey 3-0 in tiebreakers between the two. Querrey leads 2-1 after winning his two points on serve.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Querrey holds to 15 and the second set heads to a tiebreaker. 6-6. TOMIC 7 6 QUERREY 5 6
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Tomic holds to 15. He leads 6-5 in the final set. Querrey needs to hold serve to stay alive in the match. TOMIC 7 6 QUERREY 5 5
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Two aces, in the final two points, gives Querrey the game to love. He holds serve. 5-5 in the second set. TOMIC 7 5 QUERREY 5 5
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Tomic holds to love and leads 5-4 in the second set. The Australian is one game away from the second round. TOMIC 7 5 QUERREY 5 4
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Querrey wins the next two points to hold serve. He survives. TOMIC 7 4 QUERREY 5 4
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
A big first serve saves the break point.