Federer says top 10 is 'big ask' for rising Tomic

MELBOURNE (AFP) –

Bernard Tomic of Australia returns a shot against Florian Mayer of Germany during their 2nd round match at the Sydney International tennis tournament, on January 9, 2013. Tomic, who three days later claimed his 8th straight win of the year in downing Kevin Anderson in Sydney final, believes he can achieve top 10 status by year’s end.

Roger Federer has warned rising Australian star Bernard Tomic that cracking the world’s top 10 will be no easy task after the young Australian won his first ATP Tour title.

Tomic, who claimed his eighth straight win of the year in downing the 36th-ranked Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 at the Sydney International final on Saturday, believes he can achieve top 10 status by year’s end.

But 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer is not so sure.

“I think we should go step by step, see how it goes,” said the Swiss great.

“Let’s speak in a year’s time. Everybody wants to jump from, what’s his ranking, 60, to 10 in a year. It’s hard to do. Ten is a big ask.

“Don’t forget how tough the top 10 players are right now.”

Roger Federer, pictured at a press conference during his visit to Singapore, on January 4, 2013. Federer has warned rising Australian star Bernard Tomic that cracking the world’s top 10 will be no easy task after the young Australian won his first ATP Tour title.

Tomic heads to Melbourne for the Australian Open with his ranking down from 64 to 43 and with a chance of facing Federer in the third round.

“If I get to Roger, it’s going to be a interesting match,” Tomic said during the Sydney tournament.

“Last I played him was in Cincinnati (last August) where I think he won the tournament. I lost to him in the third round, 6-2, 6-4, close match.

“I think I’ve improved quite a bit.”

Federer said Tomic needs to think only about his first round match, against Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer on Tuesday.

“He’s got his work cut out, you know, in the first few rounds,” he said.

“He will be making a mistake about thinking about me in the third round because he also has to get there.”

Federer, the second seed at the opening Grand Slam of the season, is aiming to win his fifth Australian Open title.