In identical kits, with short white collars popped, Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic are giving fans a glimpse into arguably the best hopes of reviving a once great tennis nation’s glory days on Wimbledon’s grass.

Playing their second-round singles matches back to back on the bunker-like Court 18 on Wednesday, the two young Australians have the swagger that exudes confidence and the flair required if they are to become champions.

Tomic, the No.27 seed, is first to move through, a trio of winning passes salvaging his third-set tie-break and hinting at an improving mental fortitude in a 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(5) result under sweltering conditions against Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. It sets up a date with defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic.

“If he's No.1, he's obviously there for a reason. But I know If I'm playing good on my day, I can beat him,” the 22-year-old Tomic says. “I have to come out on this court against him and I have to believe I can win, go for my shots. That's when I play top-five, top-six tennis. It's tough for anyone to play me, I guess, when I'm playing well.”

Tomic bows in appreciation, hailing the sea of sunburnt Fanatics after his victory and a rendition of Waltzing Matilda sounds out across the court as Kyrgios soon begins his warm-up.

Seeded one place higher than his countryman, 20-year-old Kyrgios progresses in similar fashion, although over a more fancied opponent, former top-20 Argentine Juan Monaco.

Two other Australian men – John Millman and Matt Ebden – came up short in their second-round encounters against former top-tenners Marcos Baghdatis and John Isner on Wednesday.

Still, it was cause for cautious optimism. Australia had six men through to the second round at Wimbledon this year, their  most since 1999 when nine progressed.

A once-polarising prodigy himself, 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt – now a revered and loyal statesman of the game – saluted a Wimbledon crowd for the last time on Monday, comfortable that his nation’s tennis future was veering down the right path.

With 19-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis also staking his claims as the next baton bearer, Hewitt finds it difficult to split the three enormous talents. “I think the three we have here at the moment, I like James Duckworth, Grothy (Sam Groth) and those guys,” he said. “The other three have something special. Omar Jasika is on the way up as well. Might take him a bit longer just because of his game style.

“They all have different strengths. You know, I've said the last couple years, a lot of people were quick to write Bernie off after he had the hip surgeries, and I still think he's going to be a contender the next couple years.”

Kyrgios and Tomic – both Wimbledon quarter-finalists as teenagers – share a strong mutual respect for Hewitt. Where they are gifted with more explosive games than the two-time Grand Slam champion, they are first to admit they have much to learn from his tenacity and his training intensity.

“His attitude and competitiveness is second to none,” Kyrgios said. “Maybe Rafa (Nadal) and him are the greatest competitors of all time. When you got him still playing Davis Cup, leading the charge, I think when he’s training and you watch that, it’s pretty special. I think it carries a little bit towards us guys.”

Tomic – who was glued to the screen with Kokkinakis and fellow Aussie young gun Luke Saville for Hewitt’s final match on the grass – says the 34-year-old has changed him.