Brisbane QLD, Australia, 2 January 2016 | AAP

He’s happy and says he’s grown up, now Bernard Tomic is eyeing off the elite of world tennis.

Tomic underwent a breakthrough 2015, climbing from world No.78 at the start of the year to a career-high ranking of 18th at season’s end.

The 23-year-old won 40 matches last year, including a third career ATP title in Colombia in July.

Now Tomic says his aim is to crack into the world’s top 10, a goal he feels will take even greater levels of discipline and consistency to achieve.

“The players in tennis now – the top four, top eight – are very strong players and it’s about beating them consistently each week, making deep runs into tournaments and beating these top players,” Tomic said.

“You have to earn it. The next few months we shall see and I’ll try my best.”

Tomic begins his year next week at the Brisbane International, where he’ll start the tournament against French veteran Nicolas Mahut.

The pair have never met before and Tomic, the only seeded Australian in either the men’s and women’s draw at the tournament, says it’ll be tough way to start 2016.

“Very dangerous. Obviously a very attacking player so I have to be ready from the start,” Tomic said.

“He’s beaten very good players in the past so I know if I’m not on my game it’ll be a very difficult match for me.”

Tomic holds a 5-5 record in Brisbane, with his best performance being a semifinal appearance in 2012.

The Gold Coast product says there is an extra motivation for making a similarly strong impact at this year’s event.

“I know, with Richard Gasquet pulling out of the Australian Open, I’m borderline if I make the semi to be 16th seed at the Australian Open,” he said.

“That’s a huge thing.

“I have to do well this week, win some matches … more confidence into the Australian Open would be a big thing for me.”