Second round of the doubles saw Greg and Kaden face up against the giant Croatian 30 year-old Ivo Karlovic, currently ranked 39 in the ATP singles (but that is set to rise after his 4th round showing in the Oz Open singles this year) and his partner 33 year-old Serbian Dusan Vemic, ranked a low 827 in the singles but concentrating now on doubles with a ranking of 88 in the doubles. Karlovic has a current doubles ranking of 172, with a high rank of 44.
With years of experience between them and Ivo standing a mighty 6ft 10in it was some formidable opposition facing our lads.
In the twilight on an rapidly cooling outside court it was Greg and Kaden who produced some stunning doubles tennis in the 1st set, returning the bombs which Karlovic delivered up with aplomb, and breaking Ivo’s serve mid set to go ahead and then serve out the set well, winning it 6-3.
With our pair surprising the more experienced pair it was a stunned Vemic who served 1st in the 2nd set and, not getting much help from a lethargic looking Karlovic, losing his serve for Greg and Kaden to go 1-0, a break up. Kaden held serve for 2-0 and then Karlovic faced another break-point on his serve, giving Greg and Kaden the opportunity to take a strangle-hold on the match with a potential double break. A few good serves and plays later and Karlovic had snuffed out that opportunity. Greg served and held for a 3-1 lead, then Vemic held for 3-2. Kaden then did not have a particularly good service game and after a few loose shots by both Greg and Kaden they surrendered their lead, 3-3. Games went with serve, with Greg and Kaden again matching their opponents and creating a few half-chances. At 5-6 down it was Greg who faced the pressure of serving to stay in the match. A missed over head and then good play from the opposition saw Greg lose his serve and a very close fought 2nd set 5-7.
1 set-all.
The 3rd set saw all four players playing at their best again. Mid-set Greg and Kaden were not able to convert break-point opportunities and then saved some chances on their own serve. Games went to 5-6 again, with Greg aging acing the pressure of serving to aty in the set, and this time the match. A hotly disputed line-call went against the Kaden at deuce, bringing up match point to Karlovic & Vemic. A good first serve by Greg negated that opportunity. Then Greg served a 2nd serve ace out wide to Karlovic, bringing up game point but they could not convert. A double fault to Karlovic by Greg brought up match-point to the opposition again and this time they were able to get onto Greg’s serve and won the point, winning the set 7-5 and a hard fought match 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.
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