Kooyong: Bernard Tomic beats Nick Kyrgios with tweener underarm serve ace

Australian tennis star Bernard Tomic beat fellow compatriot Nick Kyrgios in the highlight match of the 2019 Priceline Pharmacy Kooyong Classic. In a much-anticipated battle between two Australian stars, it was Tomic who ended on the winning side in their first-ever clash against each other 6-3 6-4.

Tomic, ranked at No. 85 in the world, controlled the points and pace from the beginning until the end of the match as he got the job done in just 45 minutes of play. The 26-yead-old sealed the win with a tweener underearm serve.

Tomic-Kyrgios match point.

If this doesnt sum the duo up, I dont know what will. @KooyongClassic pic.twitter.com/0V9bcZlxcF Adrian Johnson (@Adrian9Johnson6) January 9, 2019 Tomic opted not to play any ATP events before the Australian Open but his preparation for the opening Grand Slam of the season is going just sell.

The 26-year-old previously beat American Jack Sock in the opening day of the Kooyong Classic. Meanwhile, 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic edged out 2018 Wimbledon runner-up Kevin Anderson in the opening match of the day.

Cilic, ranked at No. 7 in the world, saved a couple of match points on his way to clinching a 6-3 4-6 15-13 win over sixth-ranked Anderson. Anderson appeared to be heading for 14-14 but Cilic pulled out a tough passing shot — which hit the net and dropped in the South-Africans part of the court.

Anderson was close to the ball but failed to react properly as Cilic won the point and sealed the win. In the last mens match of the day — which saw two rising Australians clash against each other — 170th-ranked Marc Polmans edged out Alexei Popyrin 4-6 6-1 14-12.

In the womens event, Chinas Shuai Peng defeated Australias Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 6-4. Peng, ranked at No. 129 in the world, recovered from a 3-0 second-set deficit to clinch a straight-set win. World No. 45 Tomljanovic blew a total of four break points in the 10th game as Peng eventually managed to serve out for the match.

Full results: <table