Brisbane
One of the many differences between Bernard Tomic and his friend Nick Kyrgios is Tomic's inferior record against top-10 opponents.
But in the same week that Kyrgios upstaged world No.2 Andy Murray at the Hopman Cup exhibition, Tomic claimed a major scalp of his own by eliminating eighth-ranked Kei Nishikori on Pat Rafter Arena.
Tomic hit 13 aces - nine of them in the first set - past the the former US Open finalist to reach the last four at the Brisbane International for the second consecutive year. 
His first win in Australia against an opponent ranked in single figures takes his record against top-10 foes to 7-32, with three of those wins in the the past 12 months. Nowhere near Kyrgios territory but it makes for an encouraging start to 2016.
There was certainly much to like about both Tomic's game and his feisty, determined attitude. The world No.18 scrambled to run down balls  and after a final forehand winner clinched the two-hour match 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
In warm and humid conditions, he was left spent and breathless at the net, but reversed the pair's 2015 encounter when he was beaten  6-0, 6-4 at the quarter-final stage.
"That was very, very special to me,' Tomic said. "Unfortunately, last year I lost very comfortably to Kei, but today I played very, very different.
"I've improved so much since last year and I was just happy to be in this position. I've been working on the small things consistently, and that's gonna make me better, and working on hitting the right ball.
"That's what my focus has been the last few months, and I think with matches and consistency comes the right mindset and as long as I'm staying healthy and focusing I can look for a bright start this year."
The 23-year-old has flagged his intent to play aggressively in 2016, but was under pressure in his first two service games, before grabbing the only break of the set with his sole opportunity to lead  5-3 and then stave off a final challenge close it out in 42 minutes.
He was serving at 75 per cent, and also impressive off the ground, carrying the standard and momentum into the start of the second set, as one of the game's acknowledged talents displayed his full array of shots, mixing power with touch and angles, including one fine forehand stretch volley cross-court. 
A key game was at 1-1, when Tomic had two chances for an early break; missing an opening on a backhand return off a second serve on the first, and netting a makeable running forehand pass down the line on the second.
He played a loose game to drop his own serve immediately after, as his first serve percentage dipped substantially and the winners started to dry up.
Nishikori had started to find his range and settle into his second match of the season,  but his cause was not helped by an extra-long bathroom break at one-set-all, which left a slightly annoyed Tomic doing hamstring stretches at court-side.
Tomic was intense and passionate, when in the past he has been a player who has sometimes appeared to be lacking a little of both qualities. Clearly, it was a match he was determined to win.
And so, after three more breaks were traded early in the decider, Tomic consolidated for 4-1, his effort in a long baseline rally in the fifth game among the more crucial exchanges.
The Australian will now meet Canadian fourth seed Milos Raonic - the 2014 runner-up - who eliminated young Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4.
"I heard he has a pretty good serve," Tomic said. "He's a very good friend of mine, so I'm happy to have the opportunity to play him. He's a former finalist and an amazing player, so I have to be ready for this match."