USA TOUR 2011 #9

In Los Angeles for the qualifying rounds of the ATP 250 Farmer's Classic, Greg was joined on Friday at the illustrious Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, just off Hollywood Boulevarde, by his good mate and ex-player Ryan Bellamy, now a certified tennis coach and also a strength and conditioning coach. Ryan has joined Greg to work with him, with the blessing of Tennis Australia, for the next 5 weeks, until the US Open.

Good mate Ryan Bellamy

It was quickly onto the practice courts for the pair in preparation for Greg's first round match in the qualifying, against 21 year-old American Michael McClune, who had a career high ranking of 267 in March 2010 but had a horror run of first round losses against high quality opponents to be currently ranked a lowly 632.

Serving first Greg started confidently but was unable to make in-roads into McClune's serve and games went with serve to 2-2. Greg then saved a break-point against him with an ace and then was forced to save another before holding, games going to 6-5.

Greg then put the pressure on McClune and brought up his only break-point of the set but McClune held his nerve and the set went to the tie-break. In the tie-break a string of breaks saw Greg race to a 6-1 lead and served for the set. McClune was not done and broke both of Greg's serves to close to 3-6 but Greg broke him again to win the tie-break 7-3 and the set 7-6. First blood to Greg.

USA's Michael McClune

With McClune serving first in the 2nd set games went to 1-1 before out of nowhere Greg came from 40-15 to even the game and then get a break-point opportunity, winning 4 points in a row to break serve and go 2-1 up. He then held confidently and brought up another break-point on McClune's serve at 4-2, when McClune double-faulted twice in a row, but McClune recovered and held serve. Greg held for a 5-3 lead and the pressure on McClune mounted. Greg brought up another break-point, this time match point, and converted, winning the 2nd set 6-3 and the match 7-6(3), 6-3.

A relieved Greg would have enjoyed that result after a tense match, and given new "coach" Ryan something to smile about. Greg plays the second round tomorrow, LA time. Two matches still to win...