MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Wayward talent. Flawed genius. Wasted potential.

Few athletes have inspired so many backhanded compliments as Australia’s Bernard Tomic, who has alienated the country’s entire tennis establishment while keeping his fans in the palm of his hand.

The lanky 20-year-old has packed a lot into a year, going from the toast of the nation with a fourth-round run at his home grand slam in 2012, to a pantomime villain booted out of the Davis Cup team for a perceived lack of commitment.

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Wayward talent. Flawed genius. Wasted potential.

Few athletes have inspired so many backhanded compliments as Australia’s Bernard Tomic, who has alienated the country’s entire tennis establishment while keeping his fans in the palm of his hand.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A merciless Maria Sharapova continued her serene progress through the Australian Open draw on Friday, obliterating third-round opponent Venus Williams 6-1 6-3 and throwing down the gauntlet to her younger sister Serena.

The second seeded Russian cannot meet the tournament favorite until the final, but the 79-minute slaughter filled with blood-curdling shrieks is sure to provide food for thought for the 15-times grand slam champion.

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) – A merciless Maria Sharapova continued her serene progress through the Australian Open draw on Friday, obliterating third-round opponent Venus Williams 6-1 6-3 and throwing down the gauntlet to her younger sister Serena.

The second seeded Russian cannot meet the tournament favourite until the final, but the 79-minute slaughter filled with blood-curdling shrieks is sure to provide food for thought for the 15-times grand slam champion.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – China’s tempestuous trailblazer Li Na sailed into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday and is poised for a deep run into the second week should she be able to overcome her greatest opponent – herself.

The sixth seed had little trouble despatching Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-1 on a breezy day at Rod Laver Arena to underline her title credentials in Melbourne.

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Jan 18(Reuters) – China’s tempestuous trailblazer Li Na sailed into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday and is poised for a deep run into the second week should she be able to overcome her greatest opponent – herself.

The sixth seed had little trouble despatching Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-1 on a breezy day at Rod Laver Arena to underline her title credentials in Melbourne.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – American teenager Madison Keys said a new set of headphones for her portable media player was top of her shopping list after bowing out of the Australian Open on Friday with winnings of A$54,500 for her third round finish.

Keys, one of the bright young talents of American tennis hoping to take the mantle from the Williams sisters, struggled with nerves during her centre court debut at Melbourne Park and lost 6-2 7-5 to German fifth seed Angelique Kerber.

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) – American teenager Madison Keys said a new set of headphones for her portable media player was top of her shopping list after bowing out of the Australian Open on Friday with winnings of A$54,500 ($57,400) for her third round finish.

Keys, one of the bright young talents of American tennis hoping to take the mantle from the Williams sisters, struggled with nerves during her centre court debut at Melbourne Park and lost 6-2 7-5 to German fifth seed Angelique Kerber.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – After routing old sparring partner Nikolay Davydenko at the Australian Open on Thursday, Roger Federer shifted his focus to humbling one of the young guns in his third round clash against local favorite Bernard Tomic.

Local media hyped up the potential match-up with the release of the draw, and the 43rd-ranked Tomic, the bad boy of tennis Down Under and last Australian in the draw, fuelled the frenzy by declaring he could beat the 17-times grand slam champion.

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) – After routing old sparring partner Nikolay Davydenko at the Australian Open on Thursday, Roger Federer shifted his focus to humbling one of the young guns in his third round clash against local favourite Bernard Tomic.

Local media hyped up the potential match-up with the release of the draw, and the 43rd-ranked Tomic, the bad boy of tennis Down Under and last Australian in the draw, fuelled the frenzy by declaring he could beat the 17-times grand slam champion.