MARINKO Matosevic has progressed to the Sydney International quarter finals, where he will face Roger Federer's Wimbledon conquerer of last year.The 26-year-old Australian was the first player to book a spot in the quarter-finals yesterday, beating Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-4.
It was a result which saw the 194cm right-hander match his feat of a year ago in reaching the last eight in Sydney.
'To do it in Australia feels good. And to beat someone like Andreas who is 20 in the world, he's a quality player,'' said Matosevic who will now take on Ukrainian player Sergiy Stakhovsky, the man who produced a major upset against Federer at Wimbledon in 2013.
'The last time I played Sergiy I beat him. It was at the Shanghai Masters. But obviously he can take that to the grave, beating Roger Federer on centre court at Wimbledon. He'll take that. That's one of the greatest accomplishments you can have this in this sport.
'I'm feeling confident. I beat him the last time we played. It's quick here and he likes quick courts, so it probably suits him more than me. ''
Matosevic said he has gained confidence from his good form at the Brisbane International and two wins in Sydney but is still to watch the tape of Stakhovsky's quarter-final against Federer.
'Every win helps. Every win you get confidence from. You know, tennis is a confidence sport. When you're not feeling confident and you're not hitting it right you don't quite feel right and you don't have a teammate to help you out. It's all on you,'' he said.
'I joked yesterday I didn't learn anything, but of course playing the greatest player of all-time, you know, you see what he does and stuff.
'I can't wait to watch. I still haven't seen the tape of the match. I want to watch it and then I'll tell what you I learned from it.
Matosevic said he was still bewildered as to why Sydney fans have in the past nicknamed him Mad Dog.
'A lady did it today but I told her to stop it,'' he joked.
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