Bernard Tomic overcame the heat and Andreas Seppi to book a place in his first ATP final written updates:-
TOMIC the tank engine is no more.
Stifling heat and a dogged Andreas Seppi pushed the 20-year-old to breaking point in his semi-final at the Apia International Sydney yesterday, but he did not succumb as he admitted he would have under such distress last year.
That toughness and refusal to give in when things get difficult has catapulted him into his first ATP Tour final and potentially back to the title of Australia's No.1 ranked player. He will move as high as No.43 on the ATP rankings if he beats South African Kevin Anderson tonight.
The world No.64 said he could not see. Called for a trainer. Took some Panadol and admitted to feeling dizzy, but fought through it 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 in 84 minutes. It is a new Bernard Tomic. No complaints, just determination to overcome obstacles.
"In the past it would have been difficult in those situations," Tomic said. "I think being fit and being very confident in those crucial moments, you know, pays off. Confidence as well is a big thing. That's where I'm really confident the past week, the past two months that I've been training. This is where my tennis is really showing what it's capable of doing.
"But I've got to improve. I've got to keep going. This is a chance for me tomorrow night. I can't stop here."
While he has made the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and the fourth round of the Australian Open, his twilight final today could be the biggest achievement of his career. The realisation he has arrived. His first trophy as a professional.
"It's about time I really got to one of these finals," Tomic said. "I had a few tournaments where I had quarters in the past year and lost in tight matches. To do it here is a great privilege and honour, to do it here in Australia. It's going to be a huge final for me tomorrow, and I'm going to give my heart out there.
"It's the start for me. This is my actual first tournament that I had my eyes on."
