Tomic Storms Back for Upset     

In my preview of the Australian Open, I talked about a few matches I really liked and thought would be great. One of the matches was the crowd favorite Bernard Tomic against the 22^nd seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

            The 19-year-old Australian came from two sets down to upset Verdasco 4-6 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2 7-5 in 93 degree heat in the match of the day for day one of the Australian Open. The victory marked the second time in Tomic’s career that he was able to rebound from two sets behind for a victory and also kept his record of getting through the Austral Open first round alive for a fourth consecutive year.

            Tomic came out tense in the beginning missing some easy shots and Verdasco played very aggressive hitting his forehand with vicious pace and spin for winners and didn’t feel much pressure the first set. The second set Tomic came out with a different mindset and started going for his shots. Tomic had chances to win the second set when Verdasco fell behind 0-40 to give Tomic three set points when serving at 5-6, but Verdasco fought off the set points and eventually won the second set tiebreaker. The young Australian came out on fire in the third set and broke Verdasco’s serve and cruised through the third set and the fourth set was very similar. With the score even now at two sets apiece, both players did their best to bring the best of their games out for the fifth and final set despite feeling fatigued. The last set was an absolute battle and Tomic gained control in the 11^th game of the set when Verdasco hit a forehand long and lost his serve. After 4 hours and 11 minutes, Tomic hit a penetrating forehand to the corner and had finally secured the match.

Verdasco congratulating Tomic after the match

            It will be very interesting to see how Bernard Tomic will play in his next match tomorrow coming off such playing such a long match in that heat yesterday. Tomic’s next opponent is the 6’6 American Sam Querrey, who relies on his serve and Tomic is a guy who likes waiting for his opponent to make mistakes, so the contrast in styles are completely different. Expect this match to be another entertaining one as well as a night match, so the Aussies can get fired up!