Tomic aims to spearhead Aussie revival
Bernard Tomic is hoping to spearhead Australia's tennis revival after stunning fifth seed Robin Soderling to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon.
Tomic became the youngest men's player to advance to the fourth round for 21 years on Saturday after downing Soderling in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 with a performance that belied his tender years.
The teenage qualifier – who plays Belgium's Xavier Malisse for a place in the last eight – is ranked a lowly 158th in the world but is Australia's highest-placed player following the decline of Lleyton Hewitt.
The fact that a country with as rich a tennis heritage as Australia does not have a player in the top 100 is a statistical anomaly that Tomic is determined to put right.
"We've gone through a stage last year maybe – Lleyton being injured a few times – hopefully Australian tennis can rise," Tomic said.
"I think now even with my moving up, I can get a lot of kids saying, 'I want to play like him and get to the top 100 and help out Australia.'
"I think it will all change in the next few years. We have a lot of juniors coming up. It's just a matter of time they get the opportunity like I did."
Tomic, whose previous best in a Grand Slam tournament was a third round appearance at this year's Australian Open, described his Wimbledon run as the highlight of his short career.
"Probably the best achievement that I've done so far," he said. "I'll always remember this is the first time I've really done well at a Grand Slam.
"I'm in the fourth round now. I'd love to win another round. I think I can win. I've got to go out there and believe like I did today."
