Tomic Aims For Maiden ATP Title in Sydney

Australia's Bernard Tomic will try to win his first ever ATP title at the Apia International in Sydney. He'll face Kevin Anderson in tomorrow's finals.

By Erik Gudris

(January 11, 2013) -- Though his possible third round encounter with Roger Federer at the Australian Open is what everyone is talking about now, Australia's Bernard Tomic will try to keep his focus on the present as he competes for his first ever ATP title in Sydney.

Facing Italy's Andreas Seppi in the semifinals, Tomic may have taken comfort known he had beaten Seppi at the Hopman Cup earlier in the month. But Seppi didn't hold back against Tomic in the first set as he forced the Australian to save six break points on his serve.

The set entered into a tiebreak that saw Seppi earn two set points thanks to a Tomic forehand error. Tomic saved both though and pushed the breaker to 10-all. A forehand winner from Tomic followed by a netted groundstroke from the Italian gave Tomic the first set.

Tomic earned the only break of serve midway through the second set. Serving for the finals at 5-4, Tomic converted on his first match point with a winning smash to earn a 7-6(10), 6-4 win.

“It's about time I really got to one of these finals," Tomic told ATP.com. "I had a lot of chances…not a lot, but I had a few tournaments where I had quarters in the past year and lost in tight matches. To do it here is a great privilege and honor, to do it here in Australia."

Anderson Survives Against Benneteau in Semis

The earlier semifinal of the day featured a tense three set battle between last year's finalist Julian Benneteau and South Africa's Kevin Anderson.

Anderson struggled to find his form early in the first set and Benneteau took quick advantage to secure the first set 6-3. Anderson picked up his play though and never faced a break point en route to taking the second set.

The final set proved to be a nail biter as both men traded breaks of serve before winding up in a tiebreak after Anderson saved a match point while serving at 5-6. Benneteau again found himself with a match point late in the tiebreak but couldn't convert. That gave Anderson the opening he needed to go on and take the match 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(8).

Anderson is seeking his third career ATP title. Tomic leads their head to head 1-0 winning their only meeting in Shanghai back in 2011.

(Photo Credit: Corleve)