After overnighting in New York, Greg and Ryan hired a car and hit the road for Binghamton in the western part of New York State, for a $50k Challenger tournament. Unseeded for this event, Greg's first round opponent was the No. 7 seed, 26 year-old Spaniard Arnau Brugues-Davi, currently ranked 157 and with an impressive record in Futures events this year. On the cusp of breaking a record, this is what the ITF site had to say about Davi:
"26-year-old Spaniard, Arnau Brugues-Davi, is just five ITF Pro Circuit singles main draw wins away from surpassing the record for most consecutive match wins which has stood for over four years. His run of 35 singles match wins since the end of March 2011 has seen him claim the singles title in his last seven ITF Pro Circuit tournaments played, amassing 70 set victories with only nine sets lost!"
A tough challenge for Greg but he does have a chance as most of those wins by Davi were on clay courts.
Serving first, it was Greg who sprinted put of the blocks, holding serve then breaking Davi and holding serve again to go to a 3-0 lead. Saving 3 break-point opportunities in the first set Greg repeated the dose, breaking Davi for 4-0, then holding and breaking again to win the first set 6-0. 1-0 up in sets.
Davi improved his service and his returning but both players were able to hold serve and not have any break-point opportunities, getting to 4-4, although Greg was winning more points than Davi. Davi then upped the anti, or Greg lost concenration, as Davi forced Greg to 0-40. Greg saved a break-poin but was unable to deny Davi who broke to go 5-4 up and serve for the set. But the set was not over in Greg's mind and he fought back, getting Davi to 15-40 and then breaking back on the 2nd break-point. Greg then held easily and forced Davi to deuce, before games went to the tie-break at 6-6.
In the tie-break, the players swopped breaks of serve to change ends at 3-3. Greg got a mini-break to go 4-3 up, then held both serves to have 3 match points at 6-3. Davi saved one, then another match-point to get to 5-6, then Greg served well to end the match, winning the tie-break 7-5 and the match 6-0, 7-6.
A solid opener for Greg, who displayed good mental toughness in a close 2nd set, after dominating the first set, to break back at 4-5 down.
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