Australian Summer 2012 - #9

After his superb performance in the first round of the singles, the doubles match was Greg's next challenge at the Australian Open.
Greg's partner was long time tennis contemporary and friend John-Patrick Smith, from Townsville. Colloquially known as JP, Greg and JP had come through the junior ranks together, with JP being the No.1 Australian at 12 and Greg improving over the years to be the No.1 junior when 18. JP received a tennis scholarship to the University of Tennessee where he obtained a degree whilst setting many tennis records. JP was the All American singles and doubles player at Tennessee for four years running and in his final year was the South-East Conference Athlete of the year, only the second player in history to do so. JP has recently graduated and begun the journey on the ATP tour and up the ranks mid 2011.

Stepanek & Paes

Their opponents in the first round have an even more enviable record in the tennis world. 38 year-old Indian Leander Paes, currently ranked 7 in doubles, has multiple grand slam titles and was the No.1 ranked doubles player in his illustrious career, whilst his partner 33 year-old Czech Radek Stepanek, currently ranked 31, is a former top 10 singles player with a high rank of 13 in the doubles. Formidable opponents.
Greg served first and held to love. In the next game some attacking play saw them have their opponents facing two break points which Greg & JP converted to take an early 2-0 lead. Paes and Stepanek then kicked up a gear and on the back of some excellent returning and great net play, they broke back immediately and then reeled off another 5 games in a row to win the 1st set 6-2.

Greg was unable to stop their run and after a long duece game again dropped serve to trail 0-1, then 0-2 in the second set. They steadied the ship on JP's serve but, despite having break-point opportunities on Stepanek's serve, they were unable to stop the legends going 5-2 up, then losing the final game to lose the set 2-6 and the match 2-6, 2-6.
Paes and Stepanek went on to be finalists.

It had been a very entertaining match with many rallies and net exchanges but the experience and volleying ability of the "elder" opponents was a telling factor in the overall result.