The sun was shining and the wind was just a breeze as Greg took to the court in Innisbrook, Florida on a hot summer day. His opponent for the quarter-final match of the 10k Futures tournament was 21 year-old Slovenian Blaz Rola. With Rola having a high singles ranking of 388 and currently ranked 737, the unseeded Rola had beaten the No. 7 seed and not dropped a set yet in the tournament. A sterner test for Greg than his previous matches but one which Greg should be confident in winning. Things did not start well for Greg though and he could not get firing, going down an early break to the left-hander Rola. Greg tried to get back into the set but Rola had the bit between his teeth and tenaciously defended his lead He then turned defence into attack, breaking a misfiring Greg again to go ahead and win the first set 6-2.
Greg got more into the match in the second set and matched it with Rola. But it was Rola who got the decisive break of serve. Greg could not get into the leftie serve of Rola and it was Rola who went on to win the second set 6-4, and the match 6-2, 6-4, bundling the No.1 seed out of the tournament.
A disappointing and unexpected result from Greg, who was definitely the favourite to win the tournament, never mind the match. At least Greg got five wins under his belt this week. Not sure what the match stats were or how many chances Greg had to break Rola, or managed to save, but the stats can only favour the unheralded Rola.
The good news is that Greg has been told that he has just made the cut for the main draw of a Challenger tournament in Winnetka, Chicago next week, so that will be his next destination.
Greg said that Rola's ATP ranking did not reflect his tennis ability as he has been at Ohio State in the USA College tennis system, where he is ranked 5th on the USA College ranking and has only played the Pro Circuit intermittently. Before Rola started at College he reached his high rank of 388 in only 8 months, so is a player of some talent, who is used to the USA conditions, the clay surface and the balls. Greg said he had played well but was unable to match Rola on the day.
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| Innisbrook Golf Resort and Spa entry |
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| Leftie Blaz Rola |
A disappointing and unexpected result from Greg, who was definitely the favourite to win the tournament, never mind the match. At least Greg got five wins under his belt this week. Not sure what the match stats were or how many chances Greg had to break Rola, or managed to save, but the stats can only favour the unheralded Rola.
The good news is that Greg has been told that he has just made the cut for the main draw of a Challenger tournament in Winnetka, Chicago next week, so that will be his next destination.
Greg said that Rola's ATP ranking did not reflect his tennis ability as he has been at Ohio State in the USA College tennis system, where he is ranked 5th on the USA College ranking and has only played the Pro Circuit intermittently. Before Rola started at College he reached his high rank of 388 in only 8 months, so is a player of some talent, who is used to the USA conditions, the clay surface and the balls. Greg said he had played well but was unable to match Rola on the day.
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