BERNARD Tomic has been handed a harsh lesson in the realities of Grand Slam tennis, suffering Australian Open defeat despite a superb attacking display against Andy Murray.
A four-time Melbourne Park finalist, Murray smothered 16th seed Tomic 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to terminate Australia's hopes of ending a 40-year title drought. 
As superior as Murray was, Tomic refused to submit, taking risks at every opportunity with 10 aces, 33 winners - and a terminal 56 unforced errors.
But, illustrating why he is regarded as a counterpunching genius, Murray cleverly soaked up Tomic's pace to deny the talented Australian in a high quality contest.
"It was a tough match, both of us had our chances," Murray said. "Bernie didn't play his best tiebreak, he missed a few easy balls, made it a bit easier for me when it was getting tight." Distracted by worries over the health of his father-in-law Nigel Sears, who collapsed at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, and the wellbeing of his pregnant wife Kim, Murray was emotional post-match.
"The last few days were very, very tough, a lot of emotions," he said. "A lot of things going through my head, very stressful." An Olympic and Wimbledon champion, world No.2 Murray delights in torturing his opponents - physically and mentally.
A master of tennis strangulation, he punished Tomic with relentless retrieving and guile, turning defence into attack.
But it was far from a rout for the second seed, who had to contend with Tomic's shotmaking creativity.
He landed 18 aces, 43 winners and made only 22 unforced errors to advance to a quarter-final clash with Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer, who dispatched American John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
Murray boasts a 12-6 winning record against Ferrer.
Unbeaten against Tomic in three previous matches, Murray laid down a familiar law from the outset by breaking the Queenslander's serve with a monster forehand return in the opening game.Watched by his father John and Lleyton Hewitt, Tomic returned the favour in the fourth game to get back on terms - but it was a brief reprieve.