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Melbourne - Defending champion David Goffin put another dent
in Bernard Tomic's Australian Open preparations on Wednesday when he sent the
local hope packing 6-2, 6-4 at the Kooyong Classic.
The win handed the Belgian world number 11 a place in
Friday's final against veteran Croat Ivo Karlovic and extends Tomic's winless
streak, which stretches back to September.
"It was not easy, the wind was a little bit tricky and
against Bernie with his game," Goffin said.
"It was a good match, conditions were fast and windy so
I was really happy with how I managed."
Tomic was joined in defeat by compatriot Andrew Whittington,
who only lasted eight games against Russian Mikhail Youzhny before retiring
with an ankle injury.
Last-minute replacement Jerzy Janowicz, brought in on
Tuesday after Richard Gasquet pulled out with an abdominal muscle injury, won
his second match in 24 hours by beating Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6 (7/3),
7-6 (7/4).
Tomic, the world number 27, has lost in the first round in
three ATP tour events since September. He was unable to mount a counter-attack
against Goffin after losing the opening set in 20 minutes.
"I was trying to work on a few things and he was
playing good," Tomic said.
"He's number 11 in the world so he's playing well and
for us it's very important to be here because I need this sort of stuff."
Goffin, who slept through Monday's tournament presentation
after flying in from an ATP event in Doha, used the hit-out of less than an
hour to get used to the hot Australian conditions ahead of the opening Grand
Slam of the year next week.
The 190th-ranked Whittington rolled his right ankle in the
seventh game against Youzhny and lasted for only one more game before giving
up.
"In the end I had to pull the pin and just get it right for Monday or Tuesday," said Whittington, who has a wildcard for the Australian Open.
Results on the second day of the Kooyong Classic tennis tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday:
Men
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Andrew Whittington (AUS) 4-4, retired (ankle injury)
David Goffin (BEL) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-2, 6-4
Jerzy Janowicz (POL) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4)
Women's exhibition
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt Qiang Wang (CHN) 6-3, 6-4
