Roger Federer praises Bernard Tomic after defeating the teenager 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to level Australia and Switzerland's Davis Cup tie at 2-2. Lleyton Hewitt and Stanislas Wawrinka's match was suspended for darkness with the Swiss leading 5-3 in the fifth set.
''He plays tennis—it's not like we've never seen a sliced backhand before and stuff," Federer told reporters. "But look, he's very good for his young age and I'm sure he's had to endure a lot of pressure over the years, especially from a country with this rich heritage in tennis, and I think he's doing really well. I mean, he's really lived up to the expectations this year and he's still on the rise. Obviously he had nothing to lose, which helps, always, and if he wins a set it's great, if he wins two, it's amazing, and if he wins three it's uncontrollable at that point, I guess. I think he did well under the circumstances. So did I, and it was a good outcome for us."