Bernard Tomic d. Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-2, 7-6


Q. Were you a little worried about getting a wild card?

BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, uhm, well, it was their decision. You know, it was tough
to say. I played well in Sydney. So I can't really say much. It was their
choice.


Q. Good opponent today, a player with some success in the past. Have you ever
served better on the important points than that in a match?

BERNARD TOMIC: Probably not, no. Today I served, you know, solid, but I
served really good on the points that I needed to.


Q. The first serve that you sent out you were landing them on the big points
quite well. Have you been working on it, or is it just more height?

BERNARD TOMIC: Uhm, well, I've definitely been working on it, and I've also
shot up, as well. You know, the taller you are, the better it is for the
serve. I think I focused more on those important points than I did on the
others.


Q. What is it about playing here? You've hardly had a tour level win, and yet
you've had three here. What is it about the Australian Open that brings out
your best?

BERNARD TOMIC: I don't know. I get lucky here somehow (laughter).

No, I play down here really good. Amongst the crowd, it's different playing
with your home crowd, the way they get behind you. I'm sure the other player
feels it, as well. Uhm, you know, I take that to my advantage. The crowd here
gets behind me and I play even better, I think.


Q. What have you been working on in your game, given you didn't play a whole
lot the second half of last year?

BERNARD TOMIC: I've been working on sort of making the transition of the
ball, to hit it harder throughout the point. Sometimes I get in the rally
where I play too soft. Against these guys, you need to take the first point
and hit it hard. That's what I've been doing and working on the last six
months. So really taking the opportunity whenever I get it.


Q. Slice worked well today; seemed to sort of get him off his rhythm a little.

BERNARD TOMIC: My slice is my best shot. That's one that gets me out of
trouble that I can hurt players, get it down low. They don't like it low.

Today he didn't like it low. That's what I was using as a weapon.


Q. You approached the net quite a bit early. Is that probably didn't see much
of that last year? Is that also something you've been instructed to do?

BERNARD TOMIC: Well, of course. I mean, before I used to, you know, push the
ball. It was tough for me to come forward. Now that I'm taking the
opportunity and hitting it harder, I've got more chance to which forward off
the right ball.


Q. Are you aware of the excitement you're causing? Australia hasn't been
doing too well lately.

BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, uhm, well, you know, my job is just to play and worry
about my game. If others can do well, other Australians, it's good, too. But
there's nothing much I can do, just focus on my game.


Q. All the shots that you have, do you think that the physical side of your
game just needs to be stepped up a little bit? Is physically getting stronger
going to be the most important? You're getting taller, but is the physical
side the one thing you need to work on a little bit more?

BERNARD TOMIC: Absolutely. I think, you know, once I build my athleticism,
I'll be much better at, you know, controlling points. I think I control the
points really good now at my age.

But it's a matter of just, you know, like I've worked on the last six months,
taking the short ball on the first chance. That will come if you're
athletically fit. I think if my body is feeling fit and can run around the
forehand or take that first chance and step in, I think it will develop.


Q. Last year there was controversy. You won your first round. Played a late
night match in the second round. What are your preferences this time? Do you
want to play in the day or night?

BERNARD TOMIC: Court 21 (laughter).


Q. Seriously? Do you want to be shielded, or would you rather the spotlight
there?

BERNARD TOMIC: I don't mind. Whatever they give me. It's up to them. I don't
prefer playing on Laver, any of the other courts, Hisense or Margaret.
Doesn't bother me.


Q. Some players prefer playing at night because it's a bit slower; others
during the day because it's quicker.

BERNARD TOMIC: These courts are pretty slow. What I found on Laver and
Hisense, they're pretty slow. Even during the day, they're pretty slow. I
think they're the slowest hard courts around. I don't reckon it makes any
difference for me if I play at night or day.


Q. Are you sometimes surprised at the publicity you get considering you
haven't won a whole lot of matches in your career yet?

BERNARD TOMIC: Well, look, it's tough to say that. I mean, I think I played
well as a junior. That's totally different to the senior level. But, uhm, you
know, I think I'm stepping up and beating all these players now. I think it's
just a matter of time before I win a lot of matches in a row in a tournament.


Q. This one maybe?

BERNARD TOMIC: I'd love to. Depends. I've got a tough next round against Ló
pez. He can play really good and just blow you off the court. I think if I
prepare and play well like I did today, I think I've got a good chance.


Q. Do you read the newspapers?

BERNARD TOMIC: I did last year (laughter).

No, I haven't really. No, I haven't.


Q. Do you think the pace of the court might be to your benefit against
someone like López? Take the sting off his serve a little bit and give you a
chance to get into the rallies.

BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the faster it is for him the better.
The slower, the better for me.


Q. Do you have targets in terms of your development? You're saying you're
still young and developing your body. Do you have things you want to achieve
by certain ages or times in 2011?

BERNARD TOMIC: It's going to be a new year. I think I'm going to play a lot
more tournaments. I think I want to break the top hundred. I think it's
tough. But if I play more tournaments this year, I've got a good shot.

But saying that, you can get sick. There's a lot of things going around. If I
play, play the way I'm playing the last few weeks, I think my progress will
show.


Q. Are you still growing? How tall are you right now?

BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, I'm getting close to 6'5". I think I've stopped growing.
It's just, you know, I'm physically getting wider. Growing is a tough thing.
Don't get me wrong. You can play well sometimes, and then you come to the
court sometimes in practice and I can't find my ball.

But sometimes, you know, I think when I'm settled and I'm not growing as
much, I play better.


Q. You said you're getting wider. Have you put on much weight?

BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, I used to weigh 86 kilos last Oz Open; now I'm weighing
91. I've definitely got more on me. I'm not saying I'm going to be like a
hundred kilos. That's not ideal for a tennis player.

But I think this is my limit now with my weight. I just have to use this
weight, where I am now, and just hold it.


Q. There are no teenagers as of now in the top 100. You mentioned the
physical aspect of the game. Do you think that's the main reason, because the
game is so physical?

BERNARD TOMIC: I think so. It's tough, especially now in the last three
years, for such a young player to come in the top hundred. There's a lot of
players now that are so physically strong that tennis is becoming so hard.
It's just going to continue to get harder.

If you're not physically fit and strong, you got no chance, I think.


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