Tomic scores impressive victory in Paris
Bernard Tomic on Tuesday scored just his third win at Roland Garros from seven campaigns, sending his through to the second round where he joins Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson.
Paris, France, 25 May 2016 | AAP
Bernard Tomic became the third Australian male first-round victor this week at Roland Garros after a straight-sets win over Brian Baker in the first round on Tuesday.
Yet the news wasn’t so good elsewhere for the other Australian me, with Sam Groth predictably falling in straight sets to the King of Clay Rafael Nadal and John Millman going down to 15th seed John Isner.
Despite declaring “I suck on clay” in the lead-up to his first-round match, Tomic looked assured as he closed out his victory over the lowly-ranked American 6-3 6-4 6-4.
The win, just his third at Roland Garros from seven campaigns, matches Tomic’s best ever return at his least-suited Grand Slam event and puts him through to the second round, joining 17th seed Nick Kyrgios and wildcard Jordan Thompson.
Tomic will now face Croatian teenager Borna Coric.
The 23-year-old saved all but one of the nine break point opportunities he offered Baker, and was efficient in converting four of the seven which fell his way to take the advantage in each set.
“I felt like I served pretty good,” Tomic said. “The big points I played very well, and I was very happy with what I did.”
Few gave Groth a chance against nine-times champion Nadal, and he lasted just 80 minutes in the 6-1 6-1 6-1 thrashing.
“Obviously when I look back on my career, it will be great to say I played him at the French but I probably would’ve preferred just about any other person in the draw,” Groth said.
Millman put in a gallant effort to push the big-serving Isner in a 6-7(4) 7-6(12) 7-6(7) 7-5 defeat.
Millman had blown a golden opportunity to go two sets up late on Monday night when he squandered seven set points as darkness took over Roland Garros, before sending a regulation overhead smash wide to concede the set.
He refused to give up the fight when play resumed on Tuesday, but ultimately succumbed to Isner’s monster serve – the American sending down 40 aces in the four-set win.