After weeks spent training at maximum and hitting with many different partners, it was a disappointed Greg who faced up to the New Year, and the reality of his ranking at around 370, not being able to get into qualifying in the Brisbane ATP tournament. He was a spectator but continued training and hitting, housing with old mate Joel Lindner and getting some quality hitting in Brisbane. More disappointing news was to follow, that he was being overlooked by Tennis Australia for a wild card into the Australian Open qualifying tournament. This will be the first time Greg will not have played at the Australian Open since 2006.
With the probability that Greg would not make the cut for the qualifying draw in Sydney, Greg set off for the ATP 250 event in Auckland, a tournament he would not be able to play if he was in the Australian Open qualifying. Greg was hopeful of making the cut in Auckland, which he did and played his first round match on Saturday 5th January 2013. Hopefully lucky 13 for Greg.
In his first round encounter he was drawn against a tricky player, veteran 36 year-old German Frank Moser, currently at the twilight of his career ranked a lowly 1089, but with a doubles ranking of 67. Greg has played Moser once before in 2010, and won that match in straight sets, on clay.
Serving first Greg was quick out of the blocks, holdin serve, then breaking Moser to go up 2-0, then 3-0. Moser held serve for 3-1 but Greg broke Moser again to lead 5-1 and served out the set 6-3, not having faced a break point in the set.
Moser was not going to disappear in the 2nd set though. He held serve in the first game and then broke Greg to lead 2-0. Greg responded and had a break point against Moser, but in a reverse mirror of the 1st set, Moser denied Greg the opportunity and held to lead 3-0. Games went with serve to 4-1, Moser again denying Greg a break point. He then got Greg to 15-40 and threatened to go a double break up, but Greg served two aces to get back to deuce and then hold serve get to 4-2. At 5-3 Moser served for the set but Greg had other ideas and broke Moser and then held serve to level the set at 5-5. Both players struggled to hold serve but easch held serve to get to the tie-break at 6-6.
In the tie-break Greg fell behind at 1-3, then broke back for 2-3, then dropped serve again to trail 2-4 at the break. He then held and broke Moser twice to serve for the tie-break and the set and match at 5-4. Inexplicably, despite Greg serving two first serves Moser won both points to lead 6-5 and then won the tie-break 7-5 and the second set 7-6, levelling the match at one set all. Nervous times for Greg, who lacked real match play.
Greg regrouped and strongly served first in the 3rd set, holding serve easily and then getting to 2-1 up. He then got Moser to 15-40 and converted to break Moser and lead 3-1. At 4-1 Greg again had break points to go up 5-1 but Moser saved and got to 4-2. Greg held to lead 5-2 and then had a match point on Moser's serve but could not break and Moser held for 5-3. Greg then had to serve for the match. He started nervously, losing the first point but steadied to complete the game, and win the set 6-3, winning a hard fought match 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3.
Not the best performance by Greg who will no doubt have to step-up for the second round match against a better opponent tomorrow. But he did win his first match of 2013.
With the probability that Greg would not make the cut for the qualifying draw in Sydney, Greg set off for the ATP 250 event in Auckland, a tournament he would not be able to play if he was in the Australian Open qualifying. Greg was hopeful of making the cut in Auckland, which he did and played his first round match on Saturday 5th January 2013. Hopefully lucky 13 for Greg.
In his first round encounter he was drawn against a tricky player, veteran 36 year-old German Frank Moser, currently at the twilight of his career ranked a lowly 1089, but with a doubles ranking of 67. Greg has played Moser once before in 2010, and won that match in straight sets, on clay.
Serving first Greg was quick out of the blocks, holdin serve, then breaking Moser to go up 2-0, then 3-0. Moser held serve for 3-1 but Greg broke Moser again to lead 5-1 and served out the set 6-3, not having faced a break point in the set.
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| Frank Moser |
In the tie-break Greg fell behind at 1-3, then broke back for 2-3, then dropped serve again to trail 2-4 at the break. He then held and broke Moser twice to serve for the tie-break and the set and match at 5-4. Inexplicably, despite Greg serving two first serves Moser won both points to lead 6-5 and then won the tie-break 7-5 and the second set 7-6, levelling the match at one set all. Nervous times for Greg, who lacked real match play.
Greg regrouped and strongly served first in the 3rd set, holding serve easily and then getting to 2-1 up. He then got Moser to 15-40 and converted to break Moser and lead 3-1. At 4-1 Greg again had break points to go up 5-1 but Moser saved and got to 4-2. Greg held to lead 5-2 and then had a match point on Moser's serve but could not break and Moser held for 5-3. Greg then had to serve for the match. He started nervously, losing the first point but steadied to complete the game, and win the set 6-3, winning a hard fought match 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3.
Not the best performance by Greg who will no doubt have to step-up for the second round match against a better opponent tomorrow. But he did win his first match of 2013.
Congratulations on your first win of the year.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in your match against Victor Hanescu in Auckland.
It will be tough match no doubt playing against a player of that caliber but anything can happen when you're on the court.
All the best.