Marinko Matosevic hits a forehand in the match against Florian Mayer at the Apia International Tennis Tournament , Homebush .Picture Gregg Porteous Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
SYDNEY sports fans, meet your Mad Dog.
While all hype surrounding the 2014 Sydney International has, not surprisingly, involved Bernard Tomic, fellow Australian Marinko 'Mad Dog' Matosevic is ready to steal some limelight for himself.
Apart from downing German Florian Mayer 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at Homebush yesterday, the 28-year-old Melbournian also had a small, but vocal, mob of blokes screaming 'carn Mad Dog and barking loudly to celebrate his winning points.
But as for where the moniker comes from?
"I don't know,'' the Mad Dog said afterwards, completely mystified.
"I never get it anywhere besides here in Sydney.
"So I think it's a person from up here. They're having me on or something. I know some idiot put it on Wikipedia because last year I came to Sydney, some journalist asked me about the Mad Dog too. I was like what the 'F'?"
So you don't like it then?
"It's okay, but Mad Dog, what is that?" he shrugged.
"Like a dog with rabies? I don't know.
"Honestly, I don't get it anywhere but in Sydney. I think it's a Sydney person with too much time on their hands."
But c'mon Mad Dog, can you really blame us? Remembering that not since Adam MacDougall was winning premierships, earning Test caps and talking to his thighs have sports fans had a cult canine to truly get behind.
And what a story his is. Born in Bosnia, Matosevic immigrated to Melbourne as a child with his parents, Branko and Ljubica, and now sits behind only Lleyton Hewitt and Tomic in Australian men's tennis rankings.
Importantly, his win over Mayer was also a solid return to form after being humbled by Roger Federer in the quarter finals of the Brisbane International, 6-1 6-1.
Asked what he learned from the Federer thumping, Meyer continued: "Not much, to tell you the truth, because I was out of energy in ten minutes.
"I was like so overwrought and Roger suffocated me. I'm watching this guy, and I'm drenched in sweat and he's like not even sweating.
"Not even using a towel and not taking a sip of water. I haven't seen the tape yet but, yeah, I'll watch it."
Asked if he felt frustrated with the amount of exposure Hewitt and Tomic received, Mad Dog said: "No, no.
"I mean, I finished number one last year. In 2012, I finished top 50.
"So it doesn't matter. Lleyton has obviously put the runs on the board with world No. 1 and two Grand Slam wins, Davis Cup wins. And Bernard has made quarterfinals of Wimbledon as an 18 year old.
"You can't take anything away from them. I'm happy. Until I get the results in the big tournaments, I'm happy to play third fiddle."
Fellow Aussie Sam Groth got rolled by experienced Czech Radek Stephanek 7-6 (6) 6-7 (5) 6-2.
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