Bernard Tomic Wins Day 1

Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer took to the courts on Day 1 of the 2012 Australian Open but it was Bernard Tomic, Australia’s 19-year old sensation, who stole the day. Backed by a wildly frenzied home crowd, Tomic came back from two sets down to overcome steep odds and seasoned veteran Fernando Verdasco in five tense sets over 4 hours and 13 minutes.

The match pitted one of the game’s elite Spaniards and the 22nd seed, Verdasco, against a defensive minded but very fit young Australian. Rod Laver Arena roared on every point and was especially vocal as Tomic fought off a two set disadvantage to manage a break in the ninth game of the 3rd set.

After jumping to a 2-0 set lead, Verdasco seemed shaken by losing the third set. In the pivotal ninth game, Fernando pitched a costly double fault that gave Tomic and his raucous followers the opening that had been elusive earlier in the match.

In his stunning 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 upset, Tomic solidified his position as the top young gun in the game. Known as a player that uses his opponent’s pace, Tomic committed 60 unforced errors against 44 winners. Verdasco committed 83 errors and only had 57 winners. Against one of the game’s biggest serves, Bernard managed to win 40 percent of his receiving points.

On a scorching day, Tomic was the more fit performer. After the match, Fernando rued his inability to close the match in three sets. This was Tomic’s fifth five set match and his second five set triumph in his young career. The opening day was sweltering and the crowd spurred Tomic on. Tomic is the youngest player in the ATP’s top 100.

In the second round, Tomic will face another big hitter in America’s Sam Querrey, who missed much of last season recovering from surgery.

Other upsets in the men’s bracket included Phillipp Kohlchreiber’s five set win over Argentina’s 25th seed Juan Monaco, Ivo Karlovic’s surprising straight set win over 31 seed Jurgen Melzer and Slovakia’s unseeded Lukas Lakko’s five set win over 28th seed Ivan Lubicic.

Second seed, Rafa Nadal and third seed Roger Federer played tight first sets before racing to victory.

Wozniacki, Azarenka and Clijsters Move On

Three high profile players Caroline Wozniacki (1), Victoria Azarenka (3) and Kim Clijsters (11) advanced on day one. This powerful threesome showed the form that makes them among the favorites to win this year’s crown. In the women’s draw only two upsets were registered.

Belgium’s 28th seed, Yanina Wickmayer, never got untracked and fell in straight sets to Kazmania’s Galena Voskoboeva 7-5,6-2. Italy’s popular Flavvia Pennetta, the 19th seed, was surprised by a rising Russian star, Nina Bratchikova, 6-3,1-6, 6-2.

Clijsters was tested by Maria Joao Koehler in the first set but found her rusty game and surged to the win in one hour. Wozniacki and Azarenka were very sharp in their debut’s and looked every bit of the top seeds. Both women are seeking their first Grand Slam Championships.