Sara Tomic looking to step out of brother’s shadow

London: Australia’s Bernard Tomic was entertaining a capacity Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon on Saturday, but in the legendary venue’s shadow out on Court 15, his younger sister Sara was taking some early steps in her quest to eclipse him.

Aged 15, Sara Tomic was the first player knocked out of the juniors, losing 6-1, 6-0 to Estonia’s 13th seed Anett Kontaveit.

However, she has set her sights on making sure she is the most famous tennis player in the family.

“I always looked up to him when I was young,” Tomic told AFP. “I hope to be better than him one day, certainly. He gives me a lot of advice.

“It’s different when you have a brother like that, someone at the top level and I hope that I can learn from him in each and every way, every day.

“I’m definitely grateful and I wouldn’t change anything. I’m so happy with all the things I’ve got just from being his sister. But I want to be my own person and hopefully one day I can.”

Though she can see similarities with her brother’s playing style, Sara is modelling herself more on world number one Serena Williams.

“We have the same backhand for sure. We grew up with the same coach so we do have similar technique but I’m more of a power player. The reason why I want to go professional is because of Serena,” she said.

She wears one of the Wimbledon champion’s custom-made jackets and said she “started crying” when she received it.

“She’s such a killer on the court. I’m having problems with it. I hope I can turn things around and try and be a killer on the court, an attack player. So far I’m not at that point where it’s good enough. I want to be number one but there are so many things I need to work on,” she added.

Sara is in London for the first time and is enjoying her debut Wimbledon experience.

“Even just walking around was special, seeing all the people, kids, fans waiting for all the top players. I hope I can be there one day and I really feel this is where I want to be,” she said.

“The grass is so green, I felt like I was in New Zealand.”

She was backed by the Aussie fanatics, green-and-gold clad Australians who roar on their compatriots at every available opportunity.

“The atmosphere, the people, the crowd, the fanatics, they were good,” she said.

“They’re so funny. I was trying not to laugh. It relaxes me, trying to enjoy myself on the court, working hard but trying to enjoy what you do.”

Unlike her brother, she is not coached by their father John, who faces a court date in Madrid later this year over an alleged attack on his son’s former hitting partner Thomas Drouet.

He has been banned from entering the Wimbledon grounds, either as a coach or a spectator, much to 20-year-old Bernard’s annoyance.

However, his younger sister was down to be in his box to watch him take on Richard Gasquet for a place in the last 16.

“My dad coaches me now and then, but Bernard is his number one priority. I have my own coach,” said Sara.