AO Series 2011 - Update #6

Second round of qualifying at The Australian Open and Greg was forced to wait an extra day for his match due to persistent rain all Thursday, his scheduled Friday match postponed to Saturday. His opponent was the No.25 seed, 6 foot 4 inch giant 25 year-old Serbian Iliya Bozoljac, currentry ranked 151, with a high rank of 101. It was a perfect hot humid day, albeit very noisy as it was "Kid's" day at Melbourne Park, with many distractions of spectators walking into the stadium area during play.
With Greg serving first, it was serves that dominated the 1st set with no player giving up a break point opportunity, or getting to deuce, with games going to the tie-break at 6-6. The tie-break was just as tight, with both players holding serve until Greg got a mini-break to go 4-3 up and then held serve to lead 6-3 with 3 set points. Bozoljac saved the first two then Greg served to win the tie-break 7-5, and the set 7-6.
With Bozoljac serving first in the 2nd set, serve again dominated. Bozoljac was holding his side as if troubled and was annoyed with the outside noise and crowd distraction, allowing Greg to bring up break-point twice on Bozoljac's serve at 2-2, but two aces and good serving allowed Bozoljac to hold for 3-2. Games then went with serve to 6-5, Greg holding to love to go to the tie-breaker again at 6-6.

The tie-breaker was an eventful affair, Greg taking an early lead to go 3-0 up, then get to 2-4. Bozoljac broke back to 3-4 but then double-faulted to hand back the break for Greg to lead 3-5. On the next point both players stopped when the serve was about 30cm wide, but the linesman was unsighted and the umpire called the ball in, handing Bozoljac the point for 5-4. Greg served for the set but Bozoljac broke back, 5-5. Greg held and had match point at 6-5, on Bozoljac serve but was denied. Then an ace gave Bozoljac a set point at 7-6, which Greg saved with an ace, for 7-7. On the next point Bozoljac broke Greg and then served for the set, winning the tie-break 9-7 and tying the match up at 1 set all.
The 3rd set commenced with Greg serving first, games going with serve to 2-1. Greg then had an injury time out to have plasters put on his toes which were blistering. Play then continued to 3-2 when Greg got Bozoljac to 15-40 and had two break-points but was not able to convert, Bozoljac holding serve after a couple of deuces. Games went to 4-4 when it was Greg's turn to face two break points at 15-40. Greg was not able to save and Bozoljac broke to lead 5-4 and serve for the match. Greg was not finished though and took the game to Bozoljac and broke back to level at 5-5, then holding serve to love to lead 6-5.

Serve dominated the next few games with plenty of aces from both players, to 8-8. Greg then faced two break points at 15-40 but some good play saw him get to deuce and hold for a 9-8 lead. Bozoljac double faulted to start the next game and then Greg got him to 0-40 to bring up three match points. Bozoljac saved one point and then drifted a cross-court forehand wide for Greg to win the set 10-8 and a very closely fought 3hour 15min match 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 10-8.
What a grind. A very good mental match by Greg, in hot demanding conditions, which left him quite drained for his next match on Sunday.