Rising Australian star Bernard Tomic believes he can one day mix it with the best in men’s tennis and hopes to eventually regularly challenge for Grand Slam titles – and maybe win the biggest of all – at Wimbledon.
The 19-year-old is regarded as his country’s best hope for the future and again showed signs he does have the raw ability required to compete with the very best when losing to Roger Federer in Melbourne at the Australian Open earlier this week.
In the end the teenager was outclassed by the Swiss master, losing 6-4 6-2 6-2, but he says he has learned plenty in his tie with the record 16-time Grand Slam winner and is confident he can progress over the next few years and then compete regularly with the likes of Federer, Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Those looking ahead to the Wimbledon betting odds online will be wondering if he can provide a new challenge.
“Having played all the top four guys now and Roger twice, I think there is a lot for me in the future,” Tomic said following his defeat.
“Last time I learned a lot of things when I played him, and this time I learned even more.
“For me, it’s a great pleasure and honour to play him. I think you learn a lot over the period when you play these top three or four guys.”
Before the tournament, Tomic was being talked about as Australia’s next big thing and he certainly has the self-belief required to make it to the very top.
At just 19, it is a given he will get stronger and improve and, provided he continues to work hard and fine-tune his game, a bright future surely awaits.
Federer is a fan of the man he beat, saying he had a “wonderful tournament” and there is a real buzz about Tomic in his home country.
The starlet was keen to talk up his own chances of future glory and does not appear the sort who will be weighed down by the considerable level of expectation that is likely to rest on his shoulders in the coming years.
He added: “I’m always going to get better and better. Looking back a year, I was not as good as now.
“And now, looking [forward] to next year, I’ll probably be even better. That’s a scary part for me because I know I can improve a lot.”
He may have some way to go, but already Tomic talks the talk and one day that Wimbledon dream may just come true.
