Bernard Tomic has put his Wimbledon boys' quarter-final victory down to the sweet taste of revenge.
The No.3 seed turned the tables on German opponent Dominik Schulz with a 6-2 5-7 6-1 victory on Thursday to book a place in the semi-finals against unseeded Russian Andrey Kuznetsov.
Schulz beat Tomic recently in the third round of the French Open junior championship and the 16-year-old Queenslander admitted his own victory was payback.
"Yes it was," Tomic said.
"He's a tricky player and he played well that day when we played in Paris and I was happy to win here today."
Staring down a 1-4 deficit in the first set, the ninth-seeded German saved two break points in the sixth game.
But Tomic broke his opponent at his next opportunity for a one-set lead.
The Gold Coast teenager failed to convert numerous break points in the second set and when he netted a backhand in the 11th game, Schulz claimed the crucial break to serve out the set.
Tomic emerged determined for the deciding set however, breaking Schulz twice and winning his final service game to love with an unreturnable serve.
"That second set was tough because I had so many break opportunities," Tomic said.
"He kept hitting good serves on it and that started to get on my nerves a little bit.
"In the third set, I said to myself I needed to step up a little bit on the returns and that's what I managed to do and I was proud of that."
The 2008 Australian Open junior champion has moved to the United States to work at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida as he strives to crack the world's top 100 from his current position at 354.
Tomic stunned the tennis world at the Australian Open in January when, as a wildcard entrant, he was the youngest player to reach the second round of a grand slam.
He was then handed a wildcard to the main draw of the French Open but made a quick first-round exit, before losing his final-round qualifying match at Wimbledon. In Friday's semi-final, he will be in familiar territory, having reached the same stage of the junior tournament last year at the All England Club.
And he was confident of going one better.
"I've definitely learned a lot," Tomic said.
"Semi-finals will be a tough ask but I think I can beat the player.
"He's a good player, but I think I know the ways to get him."
Australian results overnight
Mixed doubles quarter-finals 9-Mark Knowles (BAH)/Anna-Lena Groenfeld (GER) bt 2-Bob Bryan (USA)/ 2-Samantha Stosur (AUS) 0-6 7-5 6-3 12-Stephen Huss (AUS)/12-Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) bt 4-Kevin Ullyett (ZIM)/4-Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) 6-3 5-7 9-7
Boys' singles quarter-finals 3-Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt 9-Dominik Schulz (GER) 6-2 5-7 6-1
Girls' doubles second round Isabella Holland (AUS)/Christina McHale (USA) bt 3-Timesa Babos (HUN)/3-Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-3 Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA)/Sally Peers (AUS) bt Emi Mutaguchi (JPN)/Akiko Omae (JPN) 6-4 6-3
Australians in action tonight Women's doubles semi-finals 3-Samantha Stosur (AUS)/Rennae Stubbs (AUS) v 2-Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)/Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) first match, court three
Mixed doubles semi-finals 1-Leander Paes (IND)/Cara Black (ZIM) v 12-Stepheh Huss (AUS)/Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) third match, court one
Boys' singles semi-finals 3-Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) first match, court 18
Girls' doubles quarter-finals Jana Cepelova (SVK)/Vivien Juhaszova (SVK) v Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA)/Sally Peers (Aus) fifth match, court four Beatrice Capra (USA)/Martina Trevisan (ITA) v Isabella Holland (AUS)/Christina McHale (USA) fifth match, court 18
LONDON AAP
