The Swiss 16-time grand slam champion gave a masterclass in guile and big-match experience in Sunday's clinical 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over the 19-year-old Australian to set up a quarter-final with Juan Martin del Potro.
It ended Tomic's run in Melbourne, during which he wowed the home crowds with victories over seeds Fernando Verdasco and Alexandr Dolgopolov.
But Tomic, who last year became the youngest man in 25 years to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, has now set his sights on a place among the men's elite.
"The next, you know, year, year-and-a-half, if I improve my body and get stronger," the 38th-ranked Tomic said of his chances of breaking into the top four.
"But I think until then I can play great tennis this year and... take my ranking to a good spot this year."