Nadal's next opponent, unseeded Aussie Bernard Tomic believes he can beat the world no 1
Nadal's next opponent, unseeded Aussie Bernard Tomic believes he can beat the world no 1Rising Australian star Bernard Tomic said yesterday he had nothing to lose and could topple world number one Rafael Nadal in an intriguing third-round showdown at the Australian Open.
Australian organisers got the match they wanted when the 18-year-old wildcard upset Nadal's Spanish Davis Cup teammate Feliciano Lopez, the world number 31, who is ranked 168 places above the confident Tomic.
Tomic was not short of bravado after knocking out the seeded Lopez, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in 2hr 9min in his best win to date.
It set him up with a dream opportunity against Nadal, who is bidding for his fourth straight major title to complete a non-calendar year Grand Slam.
"You don't have anything to lose," Tomic said. "But I'm not going to go and win this match if I go out there and play not to lose. I've got to play to win.
"It's an opportunity I've got. He's the world number one. I'll just have a go.
"I don't think he'll like my game. I think he'll like the players that give him a lot of time, a lot of rally shots. I think the way I mix it up, he's not going to like it."
Tomic has been heralded as the future of Australian men's tennis in the twilight years of former world number one and two-time major winner Lleyton Hewitt, who was dumped from this year's Open in the opening round.
Tomic said: "It's going to be a tough next 24 hours. But I dream that it happens once, and hopefully there's a lot more in my career."
