AUSTRALIA needs a new tennis hero.

And it just could be Bernard T0mic after he defeated Novak Djokovic at Kooyong yesterday.

The breakthrough win has lifted expectations on the youngest Australian tennis sensation.

But he appears to have the maturity to keep it within himself.

This is the year that he must show Australians that he is ready to take the mantle of Lleyton Hewitt; finally after a decade of Hewitt dominating the male Australian ranks of tennis.

Now Hewitt, the veteran, has some competition.

And the rivalry between the two is simmering.

You can almost say it is intense.

The biggest obstacle Tomic may face however is his father who of course just late in 2008 was fined by Tennis Australia for his attack on an umpire.

Bernard must make his own decisions or it could turn out to be another Jelena Dokic affair.

Dokic made a statement last year at the Open and will be hoping to impress again.

Does she have the guts to do what she did last year again this year?

Jelena is a mystery bet. Another Aussie Sam Stosur is climbing up the ranks rapidly and will be one of the favourites for the Aussies. You’d expect Sam to get through to a quarter final in the Open given her experience and maturity has risen.