The incoming Liberal member for the NSW seat of Bennelong, John Alexander, denies he's the coalition's "giant slayer", after defeating high profile Labor candidate Maxine McKew.
"I don't think it is like that at all," the former tennis player and commentator said on Saturday night after Ms McKew conceded her loss.
"This has been a very hard fought campaign.
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"My admiration goes to Maxine. It was a very fair campaign."
He also said he would give up tennis commentary to concentrate on being the member for Bennelong in Sydney's north-west, which was lost by former Liberal prime minister John Howard in 2007.
"I think for the moment I concentrate on this job, I won't do anything that will detract from my efforts to represent the people of Bennelong.
"I'm 100 per cent committed."
Mr Alexander blamed Ms McKew's loss on the announcement of a $2.6 billion Parramatta to Epping rail link, which he said voters found to be "insincere".
"The Parramatta railway line, that was seen as such a transparent and insincere gesture," he told reporters.
"It was a hollow promise from a desperate person trying to buy five marginal seats."
The rail link was jointly announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally.
Mr Alexander said he supported the NSW state opposition's plan for Sydney's transport needs and stressed the importance of being able to afford to pay for new infrastructure.
Rudd's downfall a factor in McKew's loss
Labor's Maxine McKew says the downfall of ousted prime minister Kevin Rudd contributed to her defeat in the NSW seat of Bennelong.
Ms McKew made her concession speech almost an hour after the Australian Electoral Commission called the seat in north west Sydney for her Liberal opponent and former tennis champion John Alexander.
She says it's been a difficult and disappointing night for Labor.
The journalist-turned-politician says the outcome could have been different if Mr Rudd had not been deposed.
She says you can't remove a Labor leader within two months of an election and expect it not to have significant ramifications.
