Tomic leaps first hurdle
IT WAS quick, brutal hopelessly lopsided.
But, in a reversal of his miserable 2017 fortunes, it was Bernard Tomic who inflicted the pain to reach the second round of Australian Open qualifying yesterday.
The Gold Coaster monstered outclassed Frenchman Vincent Millot 6-1, 6-3 in just 48 minutes in a performance that both drew praise and raised questions.
Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic urged Tomic to bring greater intensity to his secondround clash against either and American Tommy Paul or Slovenian Blaz Rola on Friday.
“He (Tomic) wasn’t pushed and did enough out there but I’d like to see him have more intensity and aggression,” Dokic said.
“This is not the type of tennis you want to be playing in the next round or the final round or in the main draw.
“Tomic is not really pushing him (Millot) that much or being aggressive.
“His opponent hasn’t put him under pressure, he should be a lot more aggressive.
“I’d like to see a bit more intensity and better footwork.”
Desperate to avoid long, attritional matches, Tomic precisely what he wanted.
He roared through the first set against error-prone Millot in 15 minutes. The second set lasted 33 minutes.
Tomic, 25, hadn’t won a grand slam match — main draw or qualifying — since he reached the third round at Melbourne Park last year.
Despite a compromised preparation for the clash with Millot, he was clearly superior to the diminutive Frenchman.
All eyes were on Tomic as the former junior prodigy began his fight to force his way into the Australian Open men’s main draw after being got overlooked for a wildcard by Tennis Australia.
While Tomic’s summer is heating up, fellow Aussie Sam Groth’s singles career is over after an agonising third-set tiebreak loss to emerging American Taylor Fritz in qualifying yesterday.
The Victorian had previously announced his intention to retire from professional tennis at his home grand slam, which came with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) loss to the 20-year-old.
The big-serving crowd favourite was shattered by the defeat, which came just after he had worked his way back into the contest.
Groth was broken to love in his first service game of the third, but levelled the set by breaking back at his first opportunity.
He clung on at 5-6 and 30-40, raking a one-handed backhand down the line to save a second match point.
The 30-year-old took an early advantage in the tiebreak but twice squandered winnable points at the net, castigating himself by yelling “why are you changing your mind?”
The emerging American didn’t give an inch, holding on as he bids to reach a third straight main draw at Melbourne Park.