Big break … Bernard Tomic survived the heat to win his semi-final. Photo: Brendan Esposito
''IT'S about time, eh?''
And with those words, Bernard Tomic summed up the thoughts of a nation. The 20-year-old overcame bouts of dizziness and blurred vision in his Sydney International semi-final to progress through to his first ATP tour final.
Not since Roger Federer in 2002 has a 20-year-old won the title in Sydney. Having continued his giant-killing summer streak with a 7-6 (12-10), 6-4 win against third seed Andreas Seppi on Friday, the only thing standing between Tomic and the right to join illustrious company is big-serving South African Kevin Anderson.
Tomic was heard during the match saying ''I can't see'' and ''I feel dizzy'', and had to take tablets and put on a hat after the first set to reduce the affects of a sweltering afternoon in Sydney's west.
The on-court temperature was hovering close to 40 degrees for most of the match, but Tomic pushed past the pain barrier to become the first Australian since Chris Guccione in 2008 to reach the final of the event. ''It was extremely hot and the heat hit me unexpectedly,'' he said. ''It was very difficult to play that first set. There were a lot of tough points and I had to call a trainer. Hopefully tomorrow isn't going to be as hot.''
Having reached the final, Tomic has guaranteed himself re-entry into the top 50 once the rankings are sorted after the tournament. He's likely to begin his Australian Open campaign at No.49 if he loses the final, but a win could see him move as high as No.43 and past Marinko Matosevic as the No.1 Australian.
The youngest player to win the Sydney International is Lleyton Hewitt, who won the tournament as an 18-year-old. But Anderson, the world No.36, who has started the year with a seven-game winning streak, isn't going down without a fight.
''It's not [going to be] an easy final,'' Tomic said. ''He serves really well so it's going to be difficult. Obviously I serve well, too, so it's going to be about who returns better and who takes their opportunities. I have to get ready for that match tomorrow and do my best to win.''
Tomic, ranked No.64 in the world before the tournament, has upset a host of big names in his Australian Open preparations. He shocked Novak Djokovic (1), Tommy Haas (20) and Seppi (22) at the Hopman Cup in Perth, before adding Florian Mayer (26) and Seppi again to his list of accomplishments.
The Queenslander admitted his golden summer on home soil was the perfect preparation for the first grand slam event in Melbourne, which he begins against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer on Tuesday.
''I can't ask for anything better for me coming here,'' Tomic said. ''To not have come here the last two years, to come to Sydney and get the chance now to play in a final is amazing.''
Tomic saved six break points at 5-5 in a lengthy service game in the first set. It ensured it would be decided in a tie-breaker, in which Tomic saved four set points and butchered two of his own before finally claiming the set after 55 minutes, 12-10 in the tie-breaker.
The second set was almost half as long, but the one break of serve Tomic managed was enough for the Australian to move to the final.
Anderson said the conditions provided its challenges in his 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) win against Julien Benneteau. ''The first set was pretty tough. I thought the conditions were really quick,'' he said.
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