Tomic turns it around For a player who has developed a certain notoriety for not always finishing matches as vigorously as he has started them, Bernard Tomic is building an enviable five-set record. His next US Open opponent, obscure British qualifier Dan Evans, noted as much when the Australian's gruelling win over Albert Ramos appeared headed for a decider. "He'll probably pull through," Evans said of Tomic. He pulls through a lot of five-set matches. Indeed. Six of the seven Tomic has played, in fact, and both so far in 2013. Monday's 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 result was both a timely boost at the pointy end of an ordinary hardcourt swing and an important sequel to his regrettable fadeout against Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows last year. Surprisingly, though, it will be Evans rather than 11th seed Kei Nishikori who awaits in the second round. Today I managed to turn it around. I dug deep and gave myself a chance, you know, as opposed to, you know, quitting. You don't get anywhere," said Tomic, who trailed by two sets to one and a service break against the 75th-ranked Ramos before advancing in just under four hours, then conceded he had been only a point or two from elimination. I gave myself a good chance. I'm very, very happy with myself and the way I played today. He knows little of Evans, which is understandable, considering this time last year the 23-year-old world No. 179 from Birmingham was playing a Futures event in Wrexham - where? exactly - and another, in Sweden, just a couple of months ago. Tomic's rise was far swifter, but has not been without its backward steps. Having already equalled his best US Open result, he will have to prepare, and play - again - without his coach and father, John, who is marooned in Manhattan after being denied accreditation and entry to the tournament site after the headbutting incident in Madrid that remains before the Spanish courts. "I'm managing now," Tomic said of the uncertainty on his father's situation. I'm trying to play as best as I can play. Of course my dad is still on my side with me and that's an important thing, but I'm trying to find myself deep down inside and become the best player I can be. Each day is a new stepping stone for later in my career. Wildcard Ashleigh Barty was the other Australian to progress, the 17-year-old adding a second singles win at grand slam level to her pair of doubles finals with Casey Dellacqua from earlier in 2013 despite conceding nine years and 67 places to the Spanish No. 102 Estrella Cabeza Candela. More formidable is the prospect of a round two date with 32nd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who conceded just two games to Barty in Kuala Lumpur this year in their only previous meeting. "She really taught me a lesson, but I'm just looking forward to it, and I'm sure I'll speak to [coach Jason Stoltenberg] over the next couple of days," Barty said after winning 6-1, 6-4. Marinko Matosevic did both of the above but still fell short of the victory that could have broken a demoralising grand slam duck that will now extend to a 12th tournament, at least. Matosevic won a set from Spanish 19th seed Tommy Robredo, but lost, again. So, too, athletic 18-year-old Nick Kyrgios against world No. 4 David Ferrer on Louis Armstrong Stadium, although the first set was an exciting pointer to what, surely, is to come. The score: 7-5, 6-3, 6-2. The future, like the Canberran's hot pink shoes: horribly bright.