Dimitrov sets up Troicki final in Sydney

Rain prevented any matches being completed on Thursday so Tomic, if he had beaten the Russian, would have had to play a semi-final later on Friday, as well as potentially Saturday’s final.

Awaiting in the other side of the draw are either the Chan sisters’ archrivals top seeds Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Sania Mirza of India, the world No. 2 and No. 1 respectively, or Raluca Olaru of Romania and Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan, who stunned fourth seeds Timea Babos of Hungary and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-3, 6-2. I love Sydney so much. For me, I always feel great playing here. “Jo (Wilfried Tsonga) has got his thing and a few players have their thing, and with such a unique last name that I have we figured I might start a new tradition and give a sock away if I win”.

“It just came out”, Tomic said, referring to his first-round match-up with unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin.

Giggling throughout the press conference, Tomic admitted he was aware of his favourable Australian Open draw before his match against Gabashvili.

“I played the finals in 2011 also; won a year ago; back in the finals again”. I’ve played a lot of tennis.

No. 3-seeded Victor Troicki and No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov will meet in the final at the Sydney International after a day featuring quarterfinals and semifinals, with organizers catching up following rain delays.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a final and I’m happy, I’m not going to hide that. This is what I worked for the last month and a bit more, since got here, for the preparations in Australia”. “Just unfortunate I couldn’t play anymore matches here”. ‘I just have to make sure I’m right for next week & I will be.’ In New Zealand four-time champion David Ferrer beat Australian qualifier Matthew Barton 6-2 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of Auckland’s ASB Classic for the 10th time in 11 appearances. For me, the best idea was not to play. “Second round is also good chance to win and third round – I think my first seed is Fabio [Fognini] if he can get there – I think I’m defending a fourth round so for me it’s a huge opportunity”.

At the Hobart International, Eugenie Bouchard, playing her best stretch of tennis since sustaining a concussion in a dressing room fall at the U.S. Open last September, advanced to the final with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win over third-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.