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| Greg prepares to do battle |
The semi finals match was scheduled for Court 1, the Indian players (and No.1 seed) getting top billing on Centre Court as they should. It was a very sparse crowd, Russell and one other, that started watching the match but it did swell to about 20 during the course of the match. A pity because it was a cracker.
Greg was up against the No.2 seed 31 year-old Aussie Peter Luczak, a good mate of Greg and one of the nicest persons, who is currently ranked 133 and has an impressive high rank of 64 last year. So Peter is obviously the favourite.
With an amazing amount of dragonflies buzzing around on a very hot afternoon it was Greg who began proceedings. Greg started well, as did Luczak, with both players holding for 1-1. Another couple of good serves saw Greg go to 30-0, then an "ace" called wide unsettled him, breaking his concentration and allowing Luczak to break him. Greg immediately re-focused and brought up 2 break points on Luczaks next service game but three long returns saw Luczak hold and consolidate the break at 3-1. Greg held for 3-2 and then had two break point opportunities on Luczak's serve, this time converting to get back level at 3-3.
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| Semi-final on Court 1 |
Greg then confidently served a love-game to go to 4-3, and then another to go 5-4 up. Luczak countered Greg's serving and held his own serve, games going to the tie-break at 6-6.
In a very close tie-break it was Luczak who got the first break to go 5-3 up. Greg then served a double fault to give Luczak a set point. Greg saved one set point but could not deny Luzcak, who won the tie-break 7-4, and the set 7-6.
Luczak served first in the 2nd set and took a 1-0 lead. Greg saved two break points before levelling at 1-1. He then got Luczal to 0-30 but a lob hit long saw Luzcak recover and hold. Two aces helped Greg to another love game and scores were even at 2-2. In the next game it was a first for Greg as he chased a lob and then hit an amazing shot through the legs back into play and then won the point. Smiles all round. That would be one of the highlights of Greg's week no doubt.
At 4-3 down Greg hit 4 unreturnable first serves to level at 4-4. Then he brought up two break points on
Luczak's serve and broke to go 5-4 up, confidently serving out the set 6-4 to level the match at 1-1.
1 set all, what a scapper. Greg was in with a chance of playing for a medal.
With Luczak serving first again in the 3rd set, Greg kept the momentum going and broke Luczak in the 1st game and then served confidently to consolidate his lead at 2-0. At 2-1 Greg dug himself into a hole with two double faults giving Luczak a break point opportunity but Greg saved the point and closed out the game with an ace.
He then broke Luczak again in the next game to go a double break up at 4-1, and a medal beckoned for
Greg Jones. He still had some work to do though.
Greg held well for 5-1 and then got Luczak to deuce next game but Luczak held for 5-2. Serving for the
match and a games medal, Greg confidently went 40-0 up. Three medal points. Two points later and Greg
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| Winning score ! |
It is easily the best win of Greg's senior career and a well deserved one. He attacked at every opportunity, defended well and was mentally tough. He did well to come back from behind in the 1st set, only to lose the set in a tie-breaker and then set about the task of playing tough tennis to get back on even terms and then applied himself in the 3rd set to break Luczak and take the initiative. He attacked Luczak's 2nd serve and hit quite a few clean winners off the serve to put the pressure on Luczak's serve.
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| Amenities at the Games Village |
Greg had a Commonwealth Games medal - now for the final to see what colour it would be.
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| Theatre at Games Village |
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| Delhi CWGames courtesy car |
Greg's dad, Russell ,was fortunate to be able to get into the Athletes' Village and was impressed by the amenities, the apartments (although the finishing was not good) and the meals served up. Amenities included an ice-cream parlour, virtual golf driving range, hair salon, post office, internet shop, bank, convenience store, an ampitheatre for TV and bands, travel agent, craft shop, merchandise shop (bad range and poorly stocked, a dicotheque and a bar. There was also a wrm up field and a 50m outdoor pool, as well as a small pool with cafe attached. In addition every two apartment blocks shared an entrance marquee which housed a games room, TV lounge room, masseuse rooms and an information centre.
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