Australian Summer 2012 #10

It was his birthday and it was a cold, damp and windy day that greeted Greg for his first round match in the Burnie Challenger in northern Tasmania. Seeded 5th and confident after a good performance at the Australian Open, Greg first round opponent was fellow Aussie and long-time friend and peer John Millman from Brisbane. Currently ranked 555, Millman had a lot of time off last year with shoulder surgery, then contemplating his tennis future and then training like a demon, and has a high ranking exactly the same as Greg of 179. With a very consistent game with no great weapon Millman would fancy his chances against Greg in the windy conditions.
Greg served first and played confidently in getting to 3-3. He then inexplicably served a double fault to start the next game, followed up by another two loose points to find himself staring at two break-points at 15-40. He saved the first but was unable to prevent Millman breaking and going 4-3 up. Millman held serve to consolidate the break and lead 5-3. Greg managed to save another break-point in getting to 5-4 and critically force Millman to serve for the set. Greg was again unable to make inroads into the Millman serve and Millman won the first set 6-4.
With Greg serving first in the 2nd set both players held serve to get to 1-1. Millman was coping better with the gusty, windy conditions and Greg could not get his power game working, mistiming badly on some points and committing the majority of the unforced errors in the match. Millman broke Greg and took an early advantage at 2-1. Despite Millman serving at below 50% first serves in the second set Greg was unble to capitalise, continually making errors on the Millman second serve and thus applying no pressure on him.

Brisbane's John Millman

Millman held serve and then broke Greg again to lead 4-1, then 5-1. Greg again was forced to fight hard to hold serve but managed to do so, and forced Millman to serve for the match at 5-2. Greg applied some pressure to Millman this game and got him to deuce but it was too late and Millman ws able to hold serve and win the set 6-2 and complete a comprehensive win over a much higher ranked and seeded Greg.
Not the best performance unfortunately from Greg who appeared to let the windy conditions get to him and played a game not conducive to winning the match on the day. Not a happy ending for Greg on his birthday, so hopefully the doubles match later in the day will be better.