Tomic looks ahead after Davis Cup sweep

Updated April 09, 2012 13:43:04

The dream of breaking back into the Davis Cup World Group is very much alive for Australia with one tie to go but spearhead Bernard Tomic also has big personal goals for the next few months.

World number 36 Tomic helped Australia grab a 5-0 sweep against a plucky but over-matched South Korea in Brisbane on Sunday to book a World Group play-off in September.

With victory already secured, Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomic showed none of the early nerves of his opening singles clash on Friday to brush aside Cup debutant Jung-Woong Na 6-2, 6-1 in less than an hour on Sunday.

In contrast, Marinko Matosevic became the first Australian singles player at the tie to drop a set before outlasting Min-Hyeok Cho 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 in the other dead rubber.

Tomic, 19, looked forward to helping Australia return to the elite 16-team World Group for the first time since 2007.

But not before launching a gameplan that could catapult him into tennis' elite.

Tomic will fly out on Tuesday to begin a two-month assault on clay in Europe in a bid to secure a seeding at the French Open starting on May 27.

Then there are the year's "two biggest things" - Wimbledon and the Olympics - and what he hopes is a further big rise through the rankings.

The lanky teenager will even keep in contact with the sports psychologist welcomed into the Cup team camp in Brisbane - Phil Jauncey - to keep his "head straight" during his quest.

"Every great sportsmen whether it is Federer or Nadal, they have areas where they can improve and I need to improve to become stronger mentally on the court," Tomic said.

"The biggest problem with me is, now that I am coming up I have to play a lot of lower-ranked players [I'm expected to beat].

"Look at Federer and Nadal, it would be very difficult for them always playing guys that are in the top 100.

"Sometimes it can be, not boring, but you have to have your head straight so I have been working hard with him (Jauncey).

"I have got his details so I will continue to speak to him, and hopefully his thoughts can help me hit the clay a lot better."

Tomic grabbed attention when he reached Wimbledon's quarter-finals as a qualifier last year.

It helped him finish 2011 as the world number 42 after starting it outside the top 200.

Now Tomic wants to soar higher - starting with a run at Roland Garros.

"I can play on clay if I am in the right mind-set," Tomic said.

"I don't move as good as the other players, so when I am down a set and a break it is tough for me to come back.

"I have to work on developing my game in the next few weeks against these players ... (if I want) to get to the semis in the French."

The World Group play-off draw will be held next week.

Australia will find out if it is drawn against Canada, Italy (both at home), Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan (all away) or Kazakhstan (host decided by coin toss).

"Hopefully we draw the right team, and not (Federer's) Switzerland over there on clay," Tomic said.

AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted April 08, 2012 17:45:10

View the original article here

Tomic looks for fast start in Davis Cup

Updated September 15, 2011 20:52:52

Bernard Tomic will look to give Australia the whip hand in the opening Davis Cup World Group qualifying rubber against Switzerland at Royal Sydney on Friday against an opponent who freely admits to not being fully fit.

While much of the focus will turn to the second fixture between Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer, Australia's prospects of getting back into the World Group will be closely aligned to the result of the opening rubber.

Australia have already targeted wins against Stanislas Wawrinka as the most likely path to victory and the home side got some encouragement in Thursday's draw with Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomic paired against the Swiss number two in the first match.

World number 19 Wawrinka, who has a modest 9-13 record on grass and has been carrying a foot injury, said he was feeling better and OK to play but was "still not 100 per cent".

Federer though quickly dismissed any concerns that he would be feeling the effects of two flights and limited preparation following his US Open semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic.

"I'm not sore. Sorry to disappoint you," he said.

"I'm feeling good, really good, actually."

So good it seems, he has been named to play in the doubles with Wawrinka on Saturday and reverse singles on Sunday - although Davis Cup captains can choose to change their playing roster for matches after the first day.

Hewitt is also slated to have a three-match tie, teaming with Chris Guccione in the doubles.

The former world number one who went through a horror 15-match losing streak to Federer said he got a major boost from beating the 16-time grand slam champion in their last clash, the 2010 final in Halle, also on grass.

"On grass with Roger's record in Halle, that gave me a lot of confidence to come back from a set down and win that match and win a title against Roger," he said.

"But Davis Cup's different. It's over five sets obviously and Roger is going to be up for it tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday as well.

"As a team we have to find a way to get three points out of the five matches."

Federer felt he should have won that day but conceded the result would have given his great adversary a boost.

"It increases maybe his belief that he can beat me but a former world number one and former Wimbledon champion should always believe he can beat anybody on any given day and it's going to be interesting to see how it goes but I am really happy to be playing against Lleyton," he said.

The winner of the tie advances to the Davis Cup World Group in 2012 while the loser will be forced to battle it out in zonal qualifiers for the chance to enter the elite competition again in 2013.

Australia has not played in the 16-nation World Group since 2007.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, australia, switzerland

First posted September 15, 2011 18:18:35

View the original article here