USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #18

The weekend saw Greg in New Haven, on the coast north-east of New York in the state of Connecticut, for the qualifying of the ATP 250 event. In an extremely highly ranked field, Greg drew the No. 2 seed, 26 year-old Argentinian Juan Monaco, currently ranked 31, with a high rank of 14, in February 2008. So a very challenging match for Greg against a well-credentialed, highly ranked and very experienced player.

The big serving New South Welshman got off to a good start in the first set and it was Greg who got the early break of serve. He held serve and then broke Monaco again to take a stranglehold on the set, claiming the 1st set 6-2.

In the 2nd set Greg again broke Monaco and then held serve to find himself 4-1 up. Greg held his nerve and games went with serve with Greg 5-2 up. Monaco held for 5-3, then Greg served for the match. Greg said he missed a few 1st sand got a bit "tight" and Monaco seized the opportunity, breaking back to 5-4 to avoid defeat, then holding to level scores at 5-5. Greg held for 6-5 and then Monaco took the set to the tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker it Monaco's experience which saw him break Greg twice and then serve out the tie-break 7-3, winning the set 7-6 and levelling the match at 1 set all.

Going with the momentum against a now highly frustrated Greg, Monaco broke Greg early and then stamped his authority on the match, holding serve and then breaking Greg again to win the set 6-1, and a closely fought match 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-1.

Greg was bouyed by his performance against a top ranked player but frustrated with his inability to close out the match.

He now travels to the Big Apple to contest the US Open qualifying tournament next week, hopefully with confidence that he can match it with the higher ranked players, he just needs to get a win on the board against them.