Tomic eyes clash with Federer

15 Aug 2012, 3:09 pm   -   Source: AAP
Bernard Tomic has moved into the third round of the Cincinnati Masters with a straight-sets win. (AAP)

Bernard Tomic has moved into the third round of the Cincinnati Masters with a straight-sets win. (AAP)

Australians Bernard Tomic and Samantha Stosur have both safely advanced to the third round of the Cincinnati Masters in a timely US Open boost.

Bernard Tomic is relishing another crack at Roger Federer after posting back-to-back wins for the first time in almost four months.

In a double US Open boost, Tomic and fellow Australian Samantha Stosur both safely progressed to the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.

Tomic downed American Brian Baker 6-4 6-3 before Stosur rallied for a 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 win over Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Tomic's victory broke an 11-tournament run without successive wins and set up a likely showdown on Thursday (Friday AEST) with Federer.

The world No.1, going for a fourth trophy in the US mid-west, still has to win his opening encounter against Russian Alex Bogomolov.

But 19-year-old Tomic, who advanced with seven aces and saved all six break points he faced against Baker, finds the looming challenge inviting.

"If I get the chance to play Roger, it will be very interesting," said the world No.49 - the only teenager in the top 50.

"I played him in the Australian Open fourth round and learned a lot from that match.

"I'm improving my game and getting stronger. People expect a lot from you and you have to keep working hard. But I think mine is paying off.

"I've still got a few more years to reach the peak of my game."

Stosur's much-needed success, after battling back from a double service break down in the third set, was only her second win since Wimbledon.

Australia's reigning US Open champion needed two hours and 37 minutes to progress after fighting back from 4-1 down in the decider.

"I thought: 'I can still regroup and close that gap just a little bit,' Stosur said.

"If you can do that, then you never know what can happen. I got on a roll and managed to squeeze it out.

"Myself, and I'm sure a lot of the other players, are still trying to find that timing from being on the grass for so long - on good hard courts with the ball bouncing up, and it's really quite light through the air.

"I guess I'll find out more when I lay down in bed how achey and I sore I am.

"I played some long matches lately and pulled up well. Hopefully this will be no different."

The third seed next faces either Russian Ekaterina Makarova or Anna Tatishvili of Georgia for a quarter-final spot.

With world No.1 Victoria Azarenka and the second-ranked Maria Sharapova skipping the event, Stosur has a nice draw and a great opportunity to build confidence before making her title defence in New York from August 27.

"All of a sudden you get to an America and obviously there is that hype and we have the big lead-up tournaments," Stosur said.

"Everyone is talking about the US Open again. I feel like it has come by pretty fast. Always going to look forward to going back there the year after you win for sure."

Other women's winners included newly-crowned Wimbledon and Olympic champion Serena Williams.

The world No.4 beat Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-3 6-4, overcoming 42 unforced errors as she struggled to get readjusted to a hard court.

"I'll be okay, just getting that match under my belt," Williams said.

"I had (42) unforced errors. That's shocking. It's unprofessional. Hopefully I can clean up my act for my next match."

Williams' sister and fellow Olympic doubles champion Venus ousted Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 in her first-round match.

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