Tomic eyes top 20 surge despite loss

Even Bernard Tomic found it hard to fathom.

But the Australian’s abrupt Brisbane International quarter-final exit on Friday has not stopped Tomic believing a top 20 surge is possible in 2015.

In a sobering reality check ahead of the Australian Open, second seed Kei Nishikori of Japan took just 58 minutes to thump Tomic 6-0 6-4 at Pat Rafter Arena.

“You change ends and it’s already 6-love – I couldn’t believe it,” a bemused Tomic said.

World No.5 Nishikori set up a semi-final showdown with Canadian third seed Milos Raonic who earlier held out big serving Australian Sam Groth 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-6 (7-2).

And fourth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov booked a potential semi-final with Roger Federer after downing Slovakian Martin Klizan 6-3 6-4 on Friday.

The scoreline may have left Tomic scratching his head but he remained focused on more Sydney International success next week to help launch his top 20 tilt ahead of the Australian Open.

World No.53 Tomic had built momentum returning from hip surgery that disrupted his 2014 season, claiming a second career title in Bogota.

And after his promising Brisbane surge came to an abrupt halt, Tomic, 22, hopes to take another positive step on the comeback trail in Sydney.

“I always play well there,” said Tomic of Sydney where he has a 9-2 record, claiming the 2013 title and making the 2014 final.

“The next six months after this I can look to push inside the top 20.

“I don’t defend any (ranking points) for seven months (due to last year’s surgery) so I have to try to get top 20 somehow – I will fight for that.”

And the former Wimbledon quarter-finalist now realises how much hard work lies ahead to achieve that goal.

US Open finalist Nishikori thrashed 15 winners in a whirlwind 21 minute first set.

“It’s probably the best set of tennis someone has played against me in the last 12 months,” Tomic said.

“A slow start cost me.”

Meanwhile, world No.85 Groth may have been ranked 77 places lower than the big serving Raonic but the 27-year-old did not look outclassed in an encouraging sign ahead of the Australian Open.

Groth – owner of the record for the world’s fastest serve – did not concede a break point in the quarter-final shootout that featured a total of 37 aces including 22 to the Victorian.

Groth said a top 50 berth was realistic if he overcame the unforced errors in the tiebreaks that cost him.

“I actually think I had the better of the match until both tiebreakers,” he said.

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