USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #20

After a days break and another day's delay due to rain Greg took the court in the US Open qualifying 2nd round at Flushing Meadows to face 22 year-old Czech Dusan Lojda. Lojda, currently ranked 172, near his highest ranking of 161, is a very strong player with a powerful game.

Serving first Greg got off to a great start, holding serve and breaking Lojda to go to a 3-0 lead. Lojda held for 3-1 and Greg, winning his first 16 service points in a row, did likewise, getting to 4-1. Greg had a break-point opportunity to go further ahead but Lojda snuffed those out to go to 4-2. Then Lojda forced Greg to 30-40 and converted the break-point opportunity to get back to 4-3, then held serve for 4-4. Greg steadied to go 5-4 but Lojda held for 5-5. Lojda then again broke Greg, to go 6-5 up and serve for the set, which he did, turning the match around and winning the 1st set 7-5.

Regrouping, Greg held his first serve then brought up break-point opportunities on Lojda's serve. Lojda saved 3 break-points, denying Greg and getting to 1-1. Games went on serve to 3-2 with Greg ahead, when he got Lojda to 15-40 and managed to convert to lead 4-2. A break-back loomed in Greg's next game, going 0-40 down but he knuckled down and 5 good points saw him hold and go 5-2 up. Lojda held and forced Greg to serve for the set, which he did, bookended by two aces, to win the set 6-3 and even the match at 1-1 set all.

A tough 3rd set beckoned for both very evenly matched players, with Lojda serving first. Greg came back from 40-15 down to create a break-point opportunity but once again Lojda managed to save 3 break-points to hold and go 1-0 up. Greg immediately went 0-30 down but also dug his way out and held, games going with serve then to 4-3 Lojda leading. Lojda applied the pressure and Greg, missing a few 1st serves, found himself at 15-40 down. Improved serving saw him get to deuce but then Lojda brought up another break-point and converted, getting an important 5-3 lead.

With Lodja serving for the set and match he got to 40-30 but Greg fought hard, saving match point and then creating a break-back opportunity. Lojda  was not to be denied, saving that point and then serving out the game, set and match, advancing to the final round of qualifying after a hard fought match with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win over a very disappointed Greg, who had played very well but was just shaded in critical points by Lojda.

And so ends Greg USA Summer campaign. He will be returning back to Sydney next week for a couple of weeks rest and training before heading to Asia for a couple of Challenger tournaments before the Commonwealth games in October. It will be good to see the big young fella...