Tomic feels Open campaign on track

Bernard Tomic is confident he will be ready for an assault on the Australian Open despite falling in his Kooyong Classic opener in another straight-sets loss.

Following his round one exit at the Brisbane International, the 24-year-old suffered another setback in his preparation for next week’s Melbourne Park grand slam, losing easily to Belgian David Goffin, 6-2 6-4.

Tomic looked disinterested in the opening set but got back in the match in the second before a swag of errors proved costly.

Tomic was broken at 4-4, with world No.11 Goffin wrapping up the match with an ace.

It was the world No.27’s second straight opening round defeat after his early loss in Brisbane to Spaniard David Ferrer.

But Tomic , who this week revealed he dropped five kilos in eight days in a bid to be fit for the Open, said he felt better for the Kooyong work-out.

“I was trying to work on a few things but he was playing good,” Tomic said.

“I played well two days ago in an exhibition in Sydney and I’ve got another match here so I’m going to use this as much as I can as I have to be ready for Monday.”

“If you’re not ready than you can play bad and you only have one shot at the Australian Open each year so you have to do best you can.”

Tomic said both his opponents, world No. 21 Ferrer and defending Kooyong champion Goffin, were quality opponents.

“For me that match (against Ferrer) was a test and I wasn’t quite ready,” he said.

“The last five days have gone pretty well and I’m feeling pretty good and I have one more match and will have to try and improve a little more before Monday.”

Meanwhile, Australian Open wildcard recipient Andrew Whittington is under an injury cloud after rolling his ankle in the early match at Kooyong.

Whittington, 23, fell as he reached for a forehand in the first set of his clash with Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

He returned for one and a half games before retiring at 4-4.

“I just wanted to get it strapped and see what it felt like out there,” the Melbourne player said.

“But in the end, I had to pull the pin and just get it right for Monday or Tuesday.”

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