Monday, June 20, 2011

Tomic to play Davydenko

Updated June 19, 2011 12:12:00

Bernard Tomic has set up a first-round meeting with world number three Nikolay Davydenko at Wimbledon after negotiating his way through the final round of qualifying.

Tomic charged into the men's singles draw at the third grand slam of the year by dismissing journeyman Jean-Rene Lisnard of Monaco, 6-1 6-4 6-1.

Davydenko, the 29th seed, does not have a great record at Wimbledon and has been unable to reach the same heights following a wrist injury at the beginning of last year.

Tomic progressed through Wimbledon qualifying in 2010 before being bundled out in the opening round by American veteran Mardy Fish in straight sets.

Following his encouraging third round appearance at this year's Australian Open, the teenager was knocked out in the French Open first round by Argentine battler Carlos Berlocq last month.

Tomic has looked much more assured on the grass than clay and enjoyed some good lead-up form in Challenger tournaments in Nottingham in the past three weeks.

Meanwhile Australian Marinko Matosevic will make his Wimbledon debut against feisty Argentine and 25th seed Juan Ignacio Chela.

Matosevic, 25, earned the right to make his debut at SW19 by defeating compatriot Chris Guccione 7-6 (11-9), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 - in a match played out over three rain-interrupted days.

The South American has only won three matches from seven Wimbledon campaigns but should provide a big hurdle for Matosevic, the Australian has only one ATP tour victory to his name.

Tomic and Matosevic's victories have trebled Australia's presence in the men's ranks at Wimbledon with the ailing Lleyton Hewitt the nation's only men's player to qualify automatically.

- AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, australia, united-kingdom, england

First posted June 19, 2011 07:37:00


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