Tomic, Hewitt give locals hope

Bernard Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt gave local fans some excitement before the Australian Open with victories in warm-up tournaments yesterday while David Ferrer entered the record books.

Smarting from the poor form of women’s world number nine Samantha Stosur, who lost first round matches in Brisbane and Sydney, and the lack of top-class local talent in the men’s draw, Australian fans seemed resigned to another home grand slam without a standard bearer to cheer on deep into the second week.

Yesterday, however, Tomic captured his first ATP Tour title when he beat South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-7 6-3 in the Sydney International.

“It’s a great honour to win my first title here,” said Tomic, still at loggerheads with Australia’s Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter over perceived attitude problems.

“It’s been a long time coming but I’ve finally got one of these trophies.”

Hewitt turned back the clock to thump Juan Martin del Potro 6-1 6-4 and win the Kooyong Classic.

The 31-year-old Hewitt, who has been troubled with foot, toe, hip and hand injuries in recent years, also beat Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych at the eight-man invitational tournament.

The 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon champion, who moved the big Argentine around the court with ease, sealed his second Kooyong title when he ran around a Del Potro serve and blasted a forehand winner across court to raucous applause from the crowd.

“I felt like every match I got better and better and more confident,” Hewitt told reporters.

“Especially my ball-striking, I felt it was really coming out of the middle of the racquet from the word go.”

Hewitt now looms as a dark horse at the Australian Open, where he has been drawn against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

Meanwhile, world no.5 Ferrer entered the record books with his fourth Auckland Open title, while Elena Vesnina won her first WTA title at the Hobart International.

The 30-year-old Ferrer’s 7-6 6-1 demolition of 2008 Auckland champion Philipp Kohl-schreiber in 78 minutes ensured the Spaniard joined Australia’s Roy Emerson as the only four-time winner of the title.

Ferrer won his first Auckland title in 2007 and has won the last three editions of the tournament. Emerson won his four titles in 1960 and then again from 1965-67.

Vesnina claimed her first WTA tour title when she beat 2012 champion Mona Barthel 6-3 6-4 in just under 84 minutes in Hobart.

Vesnina had lost six previous finals, three in 2011 alone, and sank to her knees in relief when a Barthel backhand sailed wide of the tram lines to give her the title.

Vesnina said: “I’m so happy that I won the final and I think in general I was pretty good.

“I didn’t pressure myself at all I just went onto court and was thinking that ‘this is my time, I have to do it and if I get a chance I have to use that chance’.”

The 26-year-old meets France’s Caroline Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open.