Tomic, Millman to meet; Murray stops Groth
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Bernard Tomic has set up an All-Australian clash in the last 32 at the Australian Open, defeating Italian Simone Bolelli in straight sets.
Tomic will meet fellow Queenslander John Millman in a Saturday special at Melbourne Park after overcoming a mid-match wobble to win 6-4 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 in three hours and one minute.
The 16th seed began at his clinical best before inviting Bolelli back into the match.
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For two-and-a-half sets, there was little drama and no fuss from Tomic on Margaret Court Arena.
The world No.17 made life extremely difficult for his opponent, minimising his errors and hitting high notes on serve.
He didn’t offer up a sole break point in his first 13 service games, equalling a personal-best 25 aces for the match.
The Australian No.1 was patient and calculating when returning – as he displayed by triumphing in a 12-minute marathon for the match’s opening break.
But Bolelli, the world No.58, found a rhythm against Tomic to force and win a third-set tiebreak.
Bolelli required on-court treatment for a back ailment that curtailed his movement, but neither man could break the other in the fourth set until Tomic’s final blow in the 12th and last game of the match.
Millman through in five-set thriller
Millman won through to the last 32 in contrasting fashion, outlasting Luxembourger Gilles Simon in five hard-fought sets.
John Millman was a surprise winner. Photo: AAP
Millman turned the tables on his more-experienced opponent, triumphing 4-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5 in three hours and 38 minutes.
The Australian was heading for the Melbourne Park exit door, down a set and a break before recovering strongly.
Muller, the world No.38, regained his touch to take the match into a fifth set.
In the deciding set, the pair swapped breaks amid high tension.
Millman earned match points at 6-5, and the crowd sighed when the 26-year-old made a fine passing shot on Muller’s second serve, only for a let to be called.
But he recovered to end the contest on the replay, a fitting reward for his graft.
The likeable Australian enjoyed his victory, spending plenty of time signing autographs and taking selfies with fans who enjoyed the ride.
Groth bundled out
Sam Groth promises to be fit to partner Lleyton Hewitt in the retiring champion’s Australian Open doubles swansong despite suffering an injury scare late in his second-round loss to Andy Murray.
The big-serving local hope, who was bundled out in straight sets by the No.2 seed on Thursday, fell to the court in pain after rolling his right ankle approaching the net in the last game of the match.
The Aussie felt the heat against the world No.2. Photo: Getty
But he dismissed concerns over his ability to partner Hewitt in their second-round clash with eighth-seeded pairing Henri Kontinen and John Peers.
“It’s all right … if I hadn’t rolled it, I might’ve come back. Who knows?” Groth said with a wry grin.
“It was just a little tweak there – nothing too bad. I managed to hit two winners in that game, one off a drop shot. I still moved all right.
“It will be fine.”
In his first match on Rod Laver Arena, Groth was dealt a bagel in the first set as a dominant Murray set the tone for the 6-0 6-4 6-1 result.
Murray reeled off the first nine games of the match, breaking Groth’s serve four times, before the big Victorian raised his arms in mock triumph when he held serve in the 10th game to get on the scoreboard.
Groth enjoyed his most-competitive period during the second set, breaking Murray’s serve for the only time.
But it didn’t last with the Scot breaking the Newcombe Medallist seven times in the impressive display.
Murray extended his perfect record over Australian opponents at ATP, grand slam and Davis Cup level to an extraordinary 18-0 with the win.
Murray will face Portuguese 32nd seed Joao Sousa in the third round as he strives to go one better in 2016 after losing four finals at Melbourne Park.