I can conquer Federer: Tomic

Showdown ... Bernard Tomic and Roger Federer. Source: Paul Crock / AAP

Bernard Tomic earnestly believes he can bring down the mighty Roger Federer in their third-round Australian Open blockbuster on Saturday night.

Ivan Dodig (CRO) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-1

6-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-2 6-4 6-2

Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 7-6(5) 4-6 0-6 6-1 8-6

14-Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Jesse Levine (CAN) 2-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt 30-Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2

12-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Q-Rajeev Ram (USA) 7-5 6-2 6-4

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) bt WC-James Duckworth (AUS) 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(3) 10-8

Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt Q-Daniel Brands (GER) 6-7(4) 7-5 7-6(3) 7-6(8)

21-Andreas Seppi (ITA) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 7-6(4) 5-7 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2

3-Andy Murray (GBR) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2 6-2 6-4

13-Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 7-6(2) 6-2 6-3

7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Go Soeda (JPN) 6-3 7-6(1) 6-3

17-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Q-Amir Weintraub (ISR) 6-2 7-6(4) 6-4

Q-Ricardas Berankis (LTU) bt 25-Florian Mayer (GER) 6-2 6-3 6-1

2-Roger Federer (SUI) bt Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) 6-3 6-4 6-4

The 20-year-old has now gone 76 consecutive service games without being broken, and he will need to continue that rich vein of form when he faces the Swiss Master.

Tomic must end Federer's record run of 34 consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearances and reverse his fourth-round loss last year to the Swiss maestro to keep his Open dream alive.

But he can't wait to have a crack.

"What a match it is,'' Tomic said.

"Ten out of 10 now with matches (this summer). I feel so confident. This is the perfect time to play him.

"I've got a good attitude to win. I've beaten a lot of good players over the last past two weeks, especially Novak (at the Hopman Cup).

"I think I can do it ... I'm ready. I mean, I'm not going to say I don't have the belief. I do have the belief now. It's possible. I showed that in Perth, that you can beat these players.

"Now I'm going to try to beat him.''

Federer confirmed the meeting between master and apprentice with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 dismissal of old Russian rival Nikolay Davydenko.

Tomic's last defeat in Australia came 14 matches ago - against that man Federer, who also took care of the dual grand slam junior champion in a Davis Cup tie in Sydney in 2011 and in Cincinnati last year.

"We had a good one last year. We played each other in Davis Cup as well, so we kind of know each other better this time around,'' Federer said.

"Sure it's a tough match.''

Federer said he would need to "play tough'' to resist the Tomic challenge.

"I don't mind the physical aspect so maybe that's an advantage for me, I don't know,'' said the four-times Open champion.

"But I'll try to play tough and fair and hopefully come through. I'll always play aggressive.

"Tonight, obviously there were not that many rallies because Nikolay was doing the same thing, but I have the feeling that we're going to manoeuvre each other around a bit more the next round.

"So we'll see a bit more finesse is my feeling.''

While Federer cruised past Davydenko in third gear, Tomic needed eight match points to put away Brands.

Despite his own career-best serving display, Tomic also found it almost impossible to make inroads on Brands' serve as the world No.120 took the opening set without offering up a solitary break point.

But Tomic turned the match with a flash of brilliance, showing great foot speed and balance to whip a spectacular running forehand pass down the line to finally gain a break for 6-5 in the second set.

He then held his nerve to serve out the set from love-30 down before, incredibly, Brands didn't drop a single point on serve in the third set until double-faulting on the opening point of the pivotal tiebreaker.

That was enough for Tomic to nudge ahead for the first time and, after fighting off seven match points, Brands finally succumbed to put Tomic into the last 32 of his home slam for the third year in a row

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My bad: our top sport balls-ups

Sport's greatest balls-ups ... Zidane, Brett Favre and Matt Dunning head the list. Source: Fox Sports

There are many ways to look at who was responsible for the incredible series of events at the conclusion of Wednesday night's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League semi-final.

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Was it James Faulkner for bowling a no-ball on the last ball of the match? Or was it the leadership trio of Shane Warne, Cameron White and Faulkner for not noticing that the Stars did not have the required four men or more inside the inner circle? Whoever deserves the blame, all can agree that the Stars lost the match as a result of a massive balls-up.   Not a dropped catch, or a fielding miscommunication, but a fully-fledged screw-up that Stars fans will struggle to forget.

However, it's not the first time that a sporting balls-up has cost a team on the big stage. We look at the top five balls-ups in sport. What do you think is the top cringe-worthy moment?

Four years after the infamous headbutt, there has been a handshake. Source: AFP

Deep into the extra-time period of the 2006 FIFA World Cup final between Italy and France, the TV audience of 260 million witnessed a spectacular brain snap from French captain Zinedine Zidane. After comments from Marco Mazzerati about Zidane's sister, Zidane head-butted Mazzerati in the chest, sending the Italian to the turf. He was sent off because of the incident in the 110th minute of the game, meaning his side did not have his superior penalty-kick skills at their disposal when the game was decided. It was the headbutt that cost France a World Cup and abruptly ended the career of the French legend, who retired the next day.

2. The Sven Kramer lane violation (2010 Vancouver Olympics)

You have to feel for the Dutch speed skater, who was favourite to take out the gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In the 10,000 metre final, Kramer finished first, only to be disqualified for failing to change lanes during one of the later laps. It was revealed that this error – which cost Kramer Olympic gold – was actually made by his coach, who screamed the wrong instructions at him through the race.

Angry ... Dunning's drop goal was costly. Source: News Limited

3. The Matt Dunning drop-goal (2003 Super 12 season) The Waratahs were chasing the last spot in the semi-finals of the 2003 season, which they would only qualify for if they secured the bonus points as a result of scoring four tries. As the clocked ticked down, prop Matt Dunning took a snap at a drop goal attempt so the ref stop the advantage and return play to a penalty called earlier. However, this plan only worked in the case of a missed goal attempt – Dunning nailed the field goal, securing the Waratahs a win but not a finals berth.
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAvMKkC1kjA

4. The Sam-Norton Knight tap-on (2007 Super 14 season)

It was a brain explosion that not even his own teammates could believe. With the scores locked at 16-16 against Western Force, a penalty received on the sideline 35 metres out presented the opportunity to kick a penalty goal to seal the game. However, young Waratah Sam Norton-Knight had other ideas, tapping-on only to grubber a ball that was gathered by the opposition. Lote Tuqiri certainly wasn't happy, giving Norton-Knight an almighty shove as the final siren rang.

5. The Brett Favre intercept (2010 NFC Championship Game)

With 19 seconds to go in the 2010 NFC Championship Game between Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, Brett Favre threw away any chances Minnesota had of winning – literally. Favre committed the cardinal sin for a quarterback by throwing a flat pass into the middle of the field, where it was intercepted by the Saints. Then the Saints won the coin toss and won the game after a 40-yard field goal.

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Have we left any out that you think are worse? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Big guns cruise, Duckworth loses epic

Big guns ... Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga into the third round. Source: David Crosling / AAP

Super-fit Andy Murray kept his cool on a brutally hot Melbourne Day to ease through to the third round of the Australian Open.

Ivan Dodig (CRO) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-1

6-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-2 6-4 6-2

Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 7-6(5) 4-6 0-6 6-1 8-6

14-Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Jesse Levine (CAN) 2-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt 30-Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2

12-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Q-Rajeev Ram (USA) 7-5 6-2 6-4

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) bt WC-James Duckworth (AUS) 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(3) 10-8

Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt Q-Daniel Brands (GER) 6-7(4) 7-5 7-6(3) 7-6(8)

21-Andreas Seppi (ITA) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 7-6(4) 5-7 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2

3-Andy Murray (GBR) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2 6-2 6-4

13-Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 7-6(2) 6-2 6-3

7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Go Soeda (JPN) 6-3 7-6(1) 6-3

17-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Q-Amir Weintraub (ISR) 6-2 7-6(4) 6-4

Q-Ricardas Berankis (LTU) bt 25-Florian Mayer (GER) 6-2 6-3 6-1

2-Roger Federer (SUI) bt Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) 6-3 6-4 6-4

Murray, who undergoes a tough off-season training program every year in Miami, proved far too good for Portugal's Joao Sousa, winning 6-2 6-4 6-4.

"You need to be the one that's trying to dictate the points in these conditions,'' said Murray, the No.3 seed and reigning US Open champion.

"Miami is the perfect preparation.

"It's hot and humid there, although it certainly doesn't get up to 37 degrees.''

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Click here for all the Australian Open scores and results

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Murray advanced to a third-round clash with regular practice partner Ricardas Berankis.

The Lithuanian qualifier needed only 77 minutes to send No.25 seed Florian Mayer tumbling out of the Open.

Mayer - who hammered an out-of-sorts Bernard Tomic in the pivotal match of last year's Davis Cup playoff tie against Germany - was trounced 6-2 6-3 6-1 by Berankis.

Australian James Duckworth has bowed out of the Australian Open in the second round to Slovenian Blaz Kavcic in another marathon match.

Playing in searing heat at Melbourne Park, the 20-year-old Sydneysider courageously saved five match points in the final set before going down to the world No.93 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 10-8.

Duckworth had already battled through a four-and-a-half-hour, five-set encounter to topple his great mate and compatriot Ben Mitchell in the opening round.

But Thursday's clash with Kavcic was an even more gruelling affair.

At four hours and 52 minutes, it was the longest match of the tournament on the hottest day so far.

French crowd pleaser Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also moved into the third round with a minimum of fuss.

Tsonga - whose best grand slam result came when he reached the final at Melbourne Park in 2008 - proved too good for Japan's Go Soeda, winning 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in two hours and three minutes.

The No.7 seed was broken early in the second set, but was able to get back on level terms and then breeze through the tiebreaker.

While the top three seeds are capturing more attention, 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro has moved through his first two rounds in even more dominant fashion.

Del Potro conceded just five games in his opening round win over French qualifier Adrian Mannarino and a further eight in eliminating German Benjamin Becker 6-2 6-4 6-2 in the second round on Thursday night.

It means the sixth seed has conceded fewer games than any of the top three seeds over the opening two rounds.

"I served well and I made a lot of winners with my forehand. When I'm 100 per cent I have a good chance to keep winning matches," del Potro said after the match.

No.13 seed Milos Raonic from Canada beat Czech Lukas Rosol 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-3 to set up a third-round clash with German No.17 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Israel's Amir Weintraub 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

The stated aim for both player and coach is for the world No.7 to fulfil his immense promise and join the list of major winners.

"My career was always about taking the next step, always trying to improve something in your game,'' Tsonga, 27, said on Thursday after beating Japan's Go Soeda 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 to advance to the third round of the Australian Open.

"Sometimes you have a coach and sometimes you need to be alone.

"To think about your game, all you want, all your expectation.

"So for me it was good to be alone at this time and then I did another step and I decided to come back to a coach.''

Tsonga wants to be best remembered for winning majors.

The Frenchman's best grand slam result to date came at Melbourne Park back in 2008, when he advanced to the final only to be beaten by Novak Djokovic as the Serb won the first of his five major titles.

Tsonga has also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in each of the last two years, famously beating Roger Federer in 2011 after dropping the opening two sets.

"I've had some good results (at the grand slams) but I want to take the next step and it's maybe to win one,'' he said.

"Today I'm working for that and I'm doing everything to achieve these things.

"I don't have too many goals.

"The only goal is to play well in that kind of tournament.''

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Donaldson outshines McIlroy, Woods

Jamie Donaldson ... is a shock first-round leader at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Source: Kamran Jebreili / AAP

Unheralded Jamie Donaldson outshone Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by shooting an opening-round 5-under-par 67 for an early one-shot lead on Thursday.

McIlroy, playing with new clubs following his multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Nike, finished with a 3-over 75 and risks missing the cut.

He repeatedly missed fairways including a shot on his 12th that hit a tree and ended up in a car park that led to one of his two double bogeys.

His other double bogey came when he muffed a chip in thick rough on his par-3 6th. He also putted poorly, missing a par putt on his 17th and a birdie putt on the 18th.

Mclroy insisted his difficulties had more to do with rusty strokes than the new equipment.

While he repeatedly slumped after a bad shot or frowned following a missed putt, the 2012 European Tour and US PGA Tour money winner seemed resigned to the fact that it would take time for him to adjust to the new Nike clubs.

"When you go out and you've got new stuff, you are going to be a little anxious and hopefully you play well," McIlroy said.

"But I guess I can learn from it and move on and go into tomorrow and try and play a bit better. It's about playing yourself into the weekend."

Woods, meanwhile, finished a rollercoaster round at even par after ``grinding it out.''

The 14-time major winner had four birdies to go along with four bogeys and ended his round by three-putting his 18th for a bogey when he hit the second putt too hard.

"I'm still right there," said Woods, who was five shots behind Donaldson.

"You know, if I two-putt that last hole I'm in I think 12th or 13th or something like that. There's not a lot of guys going low out there. These fairways are tiny to begin with, but there are a lot of crosswinds."

"I put something up there and lost it,'' Woods said of his bogeys on the back.

It was left to the 47th-ranked Donaldson to show how to master the narrow fairway and overcome the windy conditions. He had six birdies - including holing a bunker shot on his 12th - to go along with a bogey.

"Solid start, played some pretty good golf out there," said Donaldson, who was looking for his second European Tour victory.

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Tom Rogic pens deal with Celtic

Sign me up ... Rogic puts pen to paper with Celtic. Source: Paul Miller / AAP

Young Australian playmaker Tom Rogic has agreed terms with Scottish giants Celtic, putting pen to paper on a four-year deal.

The 20-year-old will officially become a Bhoys player if he is granted a work permit.

A Celtic statement read: "The club can confirm an application will be made to the appropriate authorities in the next couple of days."

Rogic has scored five goals in 24 A-League appearances for Central Coast Mariners and impressed Celtic manager Neil Lennon in a trial spell during the Scottish champions' recent Spanish training camp.

The recently-capped Socceroos international flew into Scotland on Wednesday with the rest of the Celtic squad after the Mariners accepted a bid believed to be around $A610,000.

The player's future has been the leading A-League transfer story, with Barclays Premier League clubs Fulham, QPR and Reading having also taken an interest.

Rogic will join Rami Gershon in signing for Celtic this month, with the Israeli defender having arrived on loan from Standard Liege.

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Quade to face Muay Thai veteran

No walkover ... Quade Cooper will face a Muay Thai veteran in his boxing debut. Source: News Limited

Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper won't face a powder-puff in his pro-boxing debut on February 8.

Muay Thai title contender Barry Dunnett has been named as Cooper's opponent for his KO to Drugs charity bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Dunnett, 32, has had two previous professional boxing bouts in 2010 but it's in Muay Thai boxing, in which fighters are allowed to use their elbows and knees, where he's built up a healthy resume that includes a Queensland light-heavyweight title fight.

Cooper makes his boxing debut on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams's heavyweight bout with South African Francois Botha.

The fight will force him to miss the Queensland Reds' second and final pre-season trial, against the defending champion Chiefs, before the Super Rugby competition kicks off.

Cooper will play in the Reds' opening trial against the Blues in Toowoomba on February 2.

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Aussies rate themselves: Sinfield

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Golden Boot controversy ... Kevin Sinfield hits out at his critics. Source:AAP

Even Kevin Sinfield was surprised to win rugby league's unofficial prize for the world's best player - the Golden Boot.

However, the Leeds champion dismissed his Australian critics who believe NRL stars Melbourne's Cameron Smith and Canterbury's Dally M Medallist Ben Barba were better placed to win the award, with Sinfield claiming Aussies "rate themselves very highly''.

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Sinfield, 32, looked set to go a long way to silencing the cynics when he led English Super League champions Leeds out against a star-studded Melbourne Storm in the upcoming World Club Challenge.

But the backlash over the England captain ousting the stars of the NRL does not look like going away soon after the Englishman's response.

"The Australians probably think the NRL competition is far superior to Super League,'' he told BBC Sport.

"Whether they rate me or not I am not sure, but with a lot of the Australians they rate themselves very highly.

"I am not bothered or interested in what they say. If they want to have a crack then they can fire away.''

Sinfield became the fourth Englishman to claim the Golden Boot, and the first since Andy Farrell in 2004.

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International team-mate Sam Burgess defends Sinfield. Read more.

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"I am surprised to win it and I feel very fortunate,'' Sinfield told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I don't pick the award. Like everything, people have an opinion.

"When do you ever have a 100 per cent winner?''

Back in pre-season training with Leeds, Sinfield will no doubt be looking to get the last laugh in the World Club Challenge (WCC) at home ground Headingley on February 22.

Sinfield led Leeds to a 26-12 triumph over Manly at last year's WCC, sparking a big year for the 10-year Rhinos skipper.

He overcame a head knock to lead the Rhinos to their sixth Super League title in nine years while also collecting the man of the match award.

Sinfield also took Leeds to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, which they lost to Warrington.

However, eyebrows were raised over Sinfield's international efforts last year, which only featured Tests against France and Wales.

"If people are not happy about it, it is not my problem,'' Sinfield said.

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Hewitt into Kooyong Classic final

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Evergreen ... Hewitt crushes Berdych at Kooyong. Source: Mark Dadswell / AAP

Lleyton Hewitt breezed into the final of the Kooyong Classic then said he felt he would be competitive against anyone at next week's Australian Open.

Defying his world ranking of 82, Hewitt crushed Czech No.6 Tomas Berdych 6-3 6-2 in just 88 minutes.

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It was his second win over a top-tier player in two days after he disposed of 15th-ranked Canadian Milos Raonic on the opening day.

Hewitt, who won the Kooyong title in 2011, said the event had been ideal preparation for his Open campaign.

"I feel like I can compete with pretty much anyone out there,'' Hewitt said.

"Obviously playing the best guys over five sets day in and day out is pretty tough but ... I hit with Roger (Federer) the other day and hit the ball extremely well at Melbourne Park.

"I feel like I can compete still against the best guys otherwise I wouldn't be putting myself through all the grind of getting up and doing all the hard preparation to be out there.''

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Hewitt said over the past two days, he and coach Tony Roche had concentrated on working on certain aspects of his game.

"I look up at Rochey and I can see him happy with some of the stuff that I am doing and what we're trying to do out there is become a better player.

"That's always in the back of your mind, especially in these kind of events.''

Hewitt said he took some time to adjust to Berdych's heavy hitting.

"He's such a clean ball striker off both sides ... it just took me a couple of games to get my confidence in terms of where my depth was at.

"All in all, I stepped it up from yesterday and I was happy with the progress.''

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Fox Sports tennis expert Adam Peacock previews the 2013 Australian Open

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Berdych said he was not in sync on court but praised Hewitt's effort and his repeated comeback from injury.

"He's hitting the ball very well - he had so many solid points,'' Berdych said.

"After all those injuries, it's really incredible to come back every time and be ready and be in shape like he is.''

Hewitt will meet the winner of the match between Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the final.

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Video: Richardson on a mission

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Kaner Richardson ... eventually gets the wicket of Shaun Marsh. Source: Simon Cross / News Limited

Kane Richardson has been one of the success stories of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash in 2012/13 and he was the centre of the action again when Johan Botha threw him the ball to try to stop a rampant Shaun Marsh in the 19th over.

While Richardson eventually did the job, dismissing Marsh for 79 but he didn't have it all his own way in an over that had everything.

The bowler got the honours from the first delivery after bowling a rare dot ball during the innings of Marsh.

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But after that the in-form batsman took control - first hitting a boundary through the covers, before teeing off and hitting the third ball of the over over the bowlers head for six.

He followed that up by giving a full toss what it deserved - again dispatching it for four through the covers.

But Richardson had the last laugh when Marsh scooped his beautifully pitched yorker straight to Nathan Lyon at mid off.

Wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt came in to face the last ball of the over, but it wasn't a long stay as Richardson got a yorker to tail back between his legs and skittle him for a globe.

Click on the video at the top to see the all-action over in full!

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Tomic through to Sydney semi-finals

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Ominous ... Bernard Tomic is looming as a dangerman at the Australian Open. Source:AFP

Bernard Tomic's new-found steel has thrust the reformed youngster into his second ATP Tour semi-final at the Sydney International.

Tomic battled back doggedly from a set down to defeat defending champion Jarkko Nieminen 6-7 (8-6) 6-4 6-2 to move to within two victories of a long-awaited maiden tour title.

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The 20-year-old will take on Italian third seed Andreas Seppi, one of his three victims at last week's Hopman Cup in Perth, for a place in Saturday's twilight final at Olympic Park.

"I'm ready to go for tomorrow's semi-final. I'm really confident," Tomic said.

"I'm going to do everything I can to win. To get the chance to play my first tour-event final and to do it in Australia is going to be unbelievable."

Tomic's only other tour semi-final ended in defeat against Andy Murray last January in Brisbane.

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Despite being below his best against the crafty left-handed Nieminen, Tomic will be a warm favourite to progress to the title match with a seventh straight win this summer.

The 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finalist now boasts 17 victories from his past 19 matches in Australia, an imposing record ahead of his home grand slam beginning in Melbourne on Monday.

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But his latest triumph was hard-earned.

"I was happy with myself to stay in there," Tomic said.

"Early in that second set, I felt like he was going for shots and was relaxing and for me to stay in there til that 3-all point was really big.

"After I won that second set, I freed up and played better tennis."

Tomic fought hard to recover from 5-2 down in the opening set, only to blow his own 5-2 advantage in the tiebreaker.

He had two set points at 6-4 and wasted his best chance on his own service when he overcooked a routine forehand.

Heartened by the reprieve, Nieminen continued to attack and was rewarded with the first set.

"I was very concerned after that first set," Tomic said.

Living on the edge, Tomic grabbed the sole break of the second set late on when Nieminen faltered trying to stay in it at 4-5 down.

The Finn's poor service game ended quickly when he put two balls in the net to allow Tomic back on level terms.

Despite his experience, Nieminen has has converted only two of his 12 finals into titles and it showed as the left-hander capitulated in the deciding set.

He surrendered his second service game of the set and, rather embarrassingly, the one-time world No.13 shanked his second serve on match point.

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Fox Sports tennis expert Adam Peacock previews the 2013 Australian Open

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Earlier, big-serving South African Kevin Anderson and Frenchman Julien Benneteau, last year's runner-up to Nieminen, booked their places in Friday's semi-finals.

Anderson downed Uzbek Denis Istomin 6-4 6-3, while Benneteau eliminated American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4 6-2.

Benneteau, a journeyman who has spent 13 years on tour without claiming a singles title, had a double win on Thursday.

With world No.13 Isner withdrawing from the Open with a knee injury, the 35th-ranked Benneteau was elevated to the 32nd and last seeding for Friday's draw in Melbourne.

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