USA Tour 2011 #22

It was a stormy day which greeted players for the second round of qualifying for the US Open, with Greg the second match on his designated court. So as the rain fell it was a day of waiting around waiting for the weather to improve. At least the facilities at the Tennis Centre are top class with a big player cafe and comfy chairs in the locker room. By a quirt of the draw gods Greg's 2nd round opponent is exactly the same player Greg confronted, and lost to, in the 2nd round of the qualifying last year, bulky 23 year-old Czech Dusan Lodja, currently ranked just above Greg at 206, with ahigh rank of 161. On current form Greg will be confident but will need to exorcise last years result.

Players have returned to court so hopefully, if it does not rain again, Greg will be on court after the current Ladies match finishes.

With Greg serving first both players held serve to 2-1, when Greg got Lojda to 15-40 and converted at the first opportunity to lead 3-1 and then served a love game for 4-1. Lojda held for 4-2 but at 5-2 up Greg got Lojda to 0-40, again converting the break point opportunity immediately to win the set 6-2.

Dusan Lojda

Again serving first Greg was untroubled in getting to 3-2, when he agin got Lojda to 0-40 and converted the break-point to take a4-2 lead. After a deuce game he held serve to lead 5-2. Lojda hit back though, holding his own serve to trail 5-3. With Greg serving, with new balls, for the match Lojda upper the ante and forced Greg to 15-40. greg saved the first point but was unable to prevent Lojda breaking back, for 4-5. Lojda held serve and then Greg served a love game for 6-5. Lojda took the set to the tie-break at 6-6.

In the tie-break Greg got an early mini-break to lead 2-0 and then held the advantage to lead 4-2 at the change over, then 4-3. He won both serves to lead 6-3 and fianlly closed out the tie-break and the set 7-4, winning the match 6-2, 7-6 to advance to the final round of qualifying. Two matches down, one to go.

Greg will be happy having got revenge for the defeat last year. His service stats were good and he again showed good mental toughness after his little hic-cup in not serving out the set.