Australian Open 2012 live stream

When Bernard Tomic takes on Roger Federer on Sunday he won't just be taking on a former world No.1 and winner of 70 career titles,  he will be staring down the spectre of his boyhood hero, the man he continues to dub his “favourite player”.

Tomic grew up watching Federer play and, while he says he was more into Pokemon cards than plotting his own tennis ascendency at the age of 12, he had enough of an appreciation of the sport to turn on the TV when the Swiss Maestro took to the courts.

“I've watched his matches since he won that first Wimbledon,” said Tomic. “With so many of the Grand Slams, I always tuned in to watch the finals when he plays Rafa or Novak.  To me, I don't enjoy watching tennis, but when Roger plays on TV, it's a pleasure to watch.”

Rapidly evolving into a seasoned tennis professional himself, Tomic says he has little patience for watch other players battling it out on court these days, but he makes an exception for Fed. “For us players, we're always in the locker room, looking at tennis. You're always looking at tennis, so it becomes a little bit boring,” says Tomic. “For a player like (Federer), when he plays, I'm going to sit and watch the whole match if I can.”

In the every-man-for-himself world of professional tennis, where ego is king,  fighting talk is the native language and fan-dom lends as much credibility as carrying a styrofoam drink flask onto court, this is a big admission from the 19-year-old. “I looked up to him a lot.  He was like my idol,” said Tomic, joking that the former world No.1's 16 Grand Slam titles dominate his thoughts when asked to pick a 'favourite' Federer match. “It's a scary number.  What he's achieved is unbelievable.  I think nobody in tennis will ever achieve that.”

Tomic's first showing against the man many dub the Greatest Of All Time - at Australia's Davis Cup tie against Switzerland in Sydney in September 2011- was nothing short of impressive, the Aussie taking a set off the six-time Wimbledon champion on the grass courts at the Royal Sydney Golf Club. And the world No.38 says he comes into this match armed with insider knowledge on his accomplished opponent.

“He gave me a few tips, which is good now because I play him, so thanks, Roger,” said Tomic cheekily of his post-match encounter with Federer at that tie. “He said I was good and can improve.  I play a different game.

“It's good to get advice like that from someone like that when he beat me.  I get the chance to play him now again, which is really good for me.”

And, while joking that he'll “pray to God” that Federer gets “sick or something” ahead of their match, hearteningly Tomic refuses to be over-awed by the task that faces him in the fourth round of his home Grand Slam.

“Now having played him before, I think I have an intense sense of what he can do and where he can hurt me, where he can't,” said Tomic. “I've got to go out there feeling good and have a go and try to win.

“Playing Roger, is an experience that I'll always remember.  I just have to go out there and focus, and I think I can have a good tennis match and who knows?  Maybe win.”