Bernard Tomic will be looking to get on and off the court as quickly as possible in the second round of the Australian Open when he takes on world no.103 Victor Estrella Burgos. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 8:30pm (AEDT).
Tomic got his campaign off to a blistering start on Monday in the first round when he got the better of clay court specialist Thomaz Belluci.
It was the least amount of games Tomic has ever conceded in a grand slam match, as he picked up a dominating 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over the world no.62.
After some disappointing form coming into the first grand slam of the year, it was an impressive performance from Tomic who was able to play at his peak for the entire hour and a half, never dropping away from his gameplan due to fitness issues.
With a good percentage of first serves in and a powerful groundstroke game, aided by being able to read the play like we haven’t often seen from the Australian, he was never going to be beaten.
For Estrella Burgos, his passage through the first round was a lot tougher as he spent over three hours on the court in a four-set victory over Alijaz Bedene.
After winning the first in a tense tie-breaker, he took the second 7-5, showing his ability to remain calm under the pump, but simply put the quality of tennis wasn’t all that good.
Bedene finally hit his straps during the third set, sending Burgos to the bottom with a 6-0 result before the 36-year-old veteran got back ahead and won the fourth set 6-3.
While Burgos doesn’t have a big serve or any major weapon in his game, he is generally pretty consistent and gets a lot of balls back into the court, which doesn’t play into Tomic’s skill set well given he will try to blast his opponent off the court, attacking the net and playing from within the baseline as much as possible.
The pair have played twice previously, however with both meetings coming in 2014, the form guide is a little irrelevant. Nonetheless, the meetings were split at one apiece with Tomic winning the last on hard court in a quarter-final.
The winner of this match will take on either Daniel Evans or seventh seed Marin Cilic.
Prediction
The only way Tomic should lose this is if he beats himself. If he plays like he did during the first round, with a positive mindset and plenty of power, he will be on and off the court in two hours.
Tomic in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of this second round match from around 8:30pm (AEDT) of at the completion of Shelby Rogers vs Ashleigh Barty and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
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anon
Guest
Tomic needs to reassess where he's going with his career if he can't beat Dan Evans. He should win and somehow make it to the 4th round, but he's pretty much reached his ceiling as a tennis player. He's stagnated the last couple of years. At least he's not throwing/fixing matches like his countryman.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah 70 is way too many in just over 3 hours on court. Not good enough, but it was a scrappy match. Burgos seemed to reduce him to his level a little bit - it was slow and it brought out the worst in both players I would say.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll do it on The Roar for our live coverage of Day 3 at the Australian Open. Earlier, Nick Kyrgios lost in five sets but here it's Bernard Tomic who has triumphed in four scrappy sets. Hopefully you enjoyed the call! We will back later today (yes, it has gone midnight) with plenty of live scores and blogs, including the matches between Daria Gavrilova and Ana Konjuh, which Riley Pettigrew will have for you at 6:30pm (AEDT), and Jordan Thompson vs Dominic Thiem, while I'll have for you from 8:30pm (AEDT). Before then, you can also join me for the Tour Down Under from 12:30pm (AEDT) Bye for now.
Jack
Guest
A lot of unforced errors if he can get his game going hopefully he goes to 4 th round
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Results It wasn't pretty, but Bernard Tomic has recorded a scrappy four-set victory over the world no.103 Victory Estrella Burgos, who put up more of a fight than anyone might have fought before the match got underway. Match Statistics Aces: Tomic (19), Burgos (13) Double faults: Tomic (2), Burgos (7) First serves in: Tomic (96/134 @ 74%), Burgos (104/164 @ 63%) Points won on first serve: Tomic (77/96 @ 80%), Burgos (77/104 @ 74%) Break points won: Tomic (2/8), Burgos (2/5) Winners: Tomic (62), Burgos (46) Unforced errors: Tomic (70), Burgos (42) Total points won: Tomic (154), Burgos (144) Final Score Bernard Tomic 7 7 4 7 Victor Estrella Burgos 5 6 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dan Evans? Look, Tomic should beat him but i'm worried about how look Tomic has been on court tonight. It's going to come back to bite him I would say, just judging by his fitness in the past. Still, a night game means a better recovery. Ive watched a bit of Evans play though - didn't do well at the Hopman Cup but made the final in Sydney. Hits a good forehand, has a solid serve. It'll be a good match I would say. He did beat Cilic tonight so that was a major upset.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH BERNARD TOMIC! Finally! Tomic is through to the third round. Burgos fought really hard in that point, some massive forehands but eventually just misses the line and it's wide! Called out, challenged and yep - it's out. Tomic through to the third round in 3 hours and 21 minutes as the players share an embrace at the net. He goes on to play Daniel Evans in the third round who upset Marin Cilic today. Bernard Tomic 7 7 4 7 Victor Estrella Burgos 5 6 6 6
Jack
Guest
Do we know much about tonic next opponent ? Looks winnable
Scott Pryde
Expert
Massive serve down the middle and jeez that was a big point in this game. Burgos couldn't quite get there and edged it out of play. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 6 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tomic can serve it out right here, but Burgos with a big forehand to save it. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 5 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tomic! That's a brilliant defensive lob after a big forehand. Gets it over the head of Burgos who has to go back and he puts the overhead into the net. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 5 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Burgos. The second is at the body before Burgos pulls the trigger but doesn't control it, sending it long Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 4 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tomic really need a free point here and he buggers it up! Big serve, gets the overhead and finds the net. That's massive. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 4 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Burgos with a massive shot on the backhand! Smokes it down the line and Tomic finds the net. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 3 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Burgos before Bernie gets the return in, then goes for a big forehand and now he has the mini-break! Burgos can't return. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 3 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Burgos before Tomic returns on the backhand. He is well on the backfoot here before playing a drop shot, then a down the line forehand and Burgos finds the net. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 2 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Tomic goes down the middle. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 1 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tomic with a fault followed by a body serve. He looks to slice his way to victory before only just getting to one down the line. Burgos to the drop shot and Tomic gets there but can't get the passing shot. Burgos volleys for the point and the mini-break! That's massive. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 0 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Burgos to serve first in the tie-breaker and he starts with a fault. Tomic with a crosscourt return before getting run behind the baseline. The rally slows up substantially for quite some time before Tomic goes for the corner but sends it wide. Tomic 7 7 4 6 - 0 Burgos 5 6 6 6 - 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another love hold on the back of big serving. Burgos can't get a ball off his body, sending it long running for a backhand. TIE-BREAKER Tomic 7 7 4 6 - Burgos 5 6 6 6 -