Tomic says Federer is 'nowhere near Novak's tennis'

Bernard Tomic is not one to suffer a slight meekly.

The 23-year-old Aussie has had an erratic career to date, with lapses in focus and drive often undercutting his obvious talent, but he came into the Australian Open with his highest-ever world ranking at No. 17.

After advancing to the fourth round at his home major for the third time Saturday, he was asked by reporters to respond to comments made earlier this month by world No. 3 Roger Federer, who sneezed at Tomic's ambitions of cracking the top 10.

"He's been good, but then top 10 is another story," Federer said during the Aussie tuneup tournament in Brisbane. "The year is not just one month long or one week long. It's 52 weeks. It's every day.

"That (is what) he's been struggling to show, to be quite honest. ... I think before speaking so highly, maybe it's good to take it to the next level, whatever that is. We shall see."

Never short on gumption, Tomic took the memory-refresher as an opportunity to fire back at the 17-time Grand Slam champ.

"Yeah, well, he has his predictions. I think he's also far away from (Novak) Djokovic as well if he wants to say that," Tomic said.

"If he believes I'm very far away from the top 10, I also believe my prediction that he's nowhere near Novak's tennis right now."

In fairness to Federer, nobody is near Djokovic's level right now, and the 34-year-old Swiss legend is as close as anyone else. Federer accounted for three of Djokovic's six losses last season, and was the only other player to reach two Slam finals.

Not far (if at all) behind Federer in the Djokovic chase is world No. 2 Andy Murray, who made the final in Melbourne a year ago, and who Tomic will face in the Round of 16. Tomic says he's undaunted by the challenge, and will only use Federer's doubt as fuel.

"It also motivates me," he said. "When I'm playing well, I'm a top-eight player in the world. My ranking has to get there."