Australian Open 2012: 5 Things We Learned from Federer's Demolition of Tomic

As Roger Federer comfortably chalked up a straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Australia's Bernard Tomic, he sent out a warning shot to every player still left in the men's tournament.

This year, Roger Federer is here to win.

For all the criticisms of him being too old, and past it, and unable to keep up with the likes of Djokovic and Nadal, Federer has moved through to the quarter-finals (again) with ease, and still appears one of the most dangerous men left in the tournament.

And whilst beating an unseeded teenager is different to beating the World No. 1 in Djokovic, Federer showcased the class and ability that he still has, and the potential he holds to take his Grand Slam total to 17.

If you missed the game, you missed a master and his master-class, and here's the five things that we learned from his win over Tomic.

1. Bernard Tomic has a bright future, but is only a teenager

Straight of the bat (or racquet), we must first note the brilliance of Bernard Tomic this tournament. The young Australian has a bright and long future ahead of him and showed moments of true class not only tonight, but throughout the entire tournament.

He took down seeded, quality players in Fernando Verdasco and Alexandr Dolgopolov, and highlighted his fighting spirit and ability to keep the ball in play with classy sliced backhands and powerful forehand.

Yet in all of this, he showed tonight that he is only a kid.

He was never going to take the match off Federer, and down two sets and 4-1 in the third was no exception, but Tomic gave up. Simply put, he threw in the towel and mentally conceded the victory.

Now I know he was never going to win, but for me, it's a matter of principle, and one that cannot enter the mind of a professional athlete -- especially against world class opposition.

But as he let Federer ace weak, slice serves on more than one occasion, and hit several straight in to the net, the match was all over, and Tomic is left to face the Australian press, who will no doubt label him as a hero.

And to some extent he is; as I said, he has a bright future and great natural ability, especially for someone so young. Mentally however? That's a whole different story and a skill that takes years of professional tennis on the ATP circuit to master.

2. Roger Federer has the greatest natural skill in the men's tournament

I don't know too many players that could serve the entire match at 58 percent, and still record a comfortable straight sets victory. I know Roddick couldn't do it, and I would have my doubts as to Nadal or Djokovic winning with the ease that Federer had tonight.

After improving his serve dramatically in the past few years, it appeared to abandon him tonight, but it did not phase him, as he still managed to land 13 aces for the match, and Tomic only managed to win 28 percent of points off the Federer serve.

Or maybe it was the 45 winners for the match that highlighted it best, as he won points cross-court, down-the-line, backhand, forehand; however you like it, Federer won points that way and he did it with the graceful skill that only he possesses.

3. Coming to the net can still reap rewards at the top level

With the sheer power and force that exists in the men's game, the likes of Federer and Djokovic can often get baited if you like, in to competing in shot-for-shot baseline rallies, when it fact, they are brilliant finishers at the net.

And Roger showcased his finishing abilities in full flight tonight, coming to the net on 25 occasions and dropping just six points in doing so. His ability to finish points against Tomic at the net went a long way to winning the match, and it will be interesting to see to what extent a similar tactic is used against Juan Martin Del Potro.

4. Federer's bag of tricks is getting as high as ever

A gifted athlete who can glide after balls, and then whip them across the court with ease, Roger Federer has continue to work hard on his own game to make it better and better and in doing so, has emphasised that not only is he not going to retire, he's going to keep challenging.

Like, seriously challenging.

Over the years, Roger's serve has improved in to one of the best weapons in his game. His backhand, especially down the line, seems effortless and continues to bring him point after point, despite having some worries against the Nadal forehand.

But for me, the real shot that shows it best, is his drop shot.

Is it the most graceful way to win a point? No. Does it give you the best statistic and make opponents fear your power? Certainly not.

But does it win the point? Yes, and that's all it ever needs to do. The drop shot that Federer has added to his game is the perfect example of him developing his own skill set to a level that goes higher and higher every match.

He is not perfect, as his unforced error total will always point out, but in trying to keep up with Novak and Rafa, he continues to morph his game to the new playing continues -- always pushing himself to be better and reaping the rewards as a result.

5. Roger Federer is not finished in the 2012 Australian Open

And not by a long shot.

Sometimes, matches like the one he just played against Tomic are the type of matches that he struggles in. He often comes through in four or five sets, but then is exposed, and loses in the next round.

However, in this one, if anything, he sent out a warning shot to Juan Martin Del Potro and the rest of the men's draw left in the hunt that the Fed Express is not too old and not too slow and if they're not careful, he'll run straight over the top of them.

He looks focused and he looks in control. Unlike Djokovic and Nadal, there are no niggling injuries and nothing that appears to be deterring him from conquering Melbourne Park.

They talk about Djokovic being unbeatable and they talk about Nadal having it over Federer.

But just keep in the back of your mind that Federer has not lost a professional game of tennis since the 2011 US Open, and is definitely not out of this one.

Talk about Novak. Talk about Rafa. Talk about them all you like.

Just don't leave Federer out of the discussion. He ranks in the top five tennis players of all time without a doubt, and it's always tough to rule someone like that out of title contention discussions.

Especially when he's steam-rolling his way through the field in a manner that by now, we're all too familiar with.

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