Roger Federer: Swiss Legend Has Legacy on Line Against Bernard Tomic

Roger Federer's constant battle with time will have a fresh young face on Sunday in his Australian Open match with Bernard Tomic. The result will answer how much tennis is left in the tank for one of the greatest ever. 

The Swiss legend will have to match up against a hungry young man that has no clue that he is outmatched. Tomic is too young to know that he is on the wrong end of talent's stick and is brash enough to walk in expecting a victory. 

In fact, you can't expect anything less from a budding young star. Confidence is what separates the great from the merely good. Federer will be facing a home crowd favorite as the Aussie faithful will no doubt be lifting one of their own. 

Federer had his hands full against big serving Ivo Karlovic, but dismissed with him convincingly in the end, 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 6-3. Things may not go as easily against Tomic, who has proved frustrating to Federer in the past. 

The legend got the better of Tomic at last year's Davis Cup, but it was a trying time that showed how difficult the enigmatic Tomic could be. It took a lengthy battle of 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to get over on the young Aussie last September.

There is no extensive book on the 19-year-old and that may prove the biggest problem as Federer continues to learn all he can on the youngster.

Federer touches upon the mystery ahead of Tomic taking down Alexandr Dolgopolov. Via The Herald Sun. 

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I'll follow it as much as I can because both are quite particular. I've only played Bernard and Alexandr one each, so I don't know them that well. Either player is going to be a challenge for me. Tomic obviously being young makes him still somewhat of a mystery just because he's changing his game as he's progressing along the way.

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Federer is always on the hunt to manage the demanding season a bit better. Endurance is at a premium and a brash player like Tomic doesn't make the start of Grand Slam tournaments any easier. 

At 30, there is only so much Grand Slam-level tennis left in the legs of a remarkable player. These are the matches that we crave as tennis fans. 

The poignant passing of the torch moments are few and far between, but there is none better than the one that will take place in Melbourne. 

The fact that Federer is not yet ready to bow out of this sport means we are going to see a legend give his all against a novice, in experience but not in talent. 

Whether he dispatches of Tomic with ease will serve to answer if there is indeed at least one more glorious title in the future for Roger Federer. 

Follow @gabezal

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