Second round of the grass court Futures Tournament in Berri and Greg faced another Australian, 24 year-old Adam Hubble, currently ranked 1019 in the singles. Hubble is a good doubles player, with a good doubles ranking of 189, and has great volleys and good touch, so will be a challenge on the soft grass.
The first set saw Greg get an early break of serve but Hubble hit back immediately to level the score. After each player held serve Greg again broke Hubble to go ahead but was then again broken immediately. Games then went with serve to the tie-break. Greg forged ahead early and maintained the break winning the tie-break 7-3 and pouching the 1st set 7-6.
In the 2nd set Greg went a break down early on but managed to break Hubble's serve to level and then see games go with serve, this set also going to the tie-break at 6-6. This time though it was Hubble who seized the advantage, getting the mini-break to change ends ahead at 4-2, then holding his serve to win the tie-break 7-4, the set 7-6 and level the match at 1 set all.
Greg started the 3rd set well, breaking Hubble early to take the lead. He then proceeded to serve well, not giving up a break point opportunity for the set, games going with serve for Greg to win the set 6-4, and a very closely contested match 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 6-4.
The match lasted over 3 hours and Greg said he was mentally exhausted, not just physically, from all the concentration required on the bumpy, soft grass courts.
A tenacious grinding win which sees him into the quarter-finals, to be played tomorrow.
Great picture of Greg.
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