Oz Summer 2012-13 #6

The final qualifying round of the ATP 250 tour event in Auckland saw Greg matched up against the No.1 seed, 31 year-old Romanian Victor Hanescu. Extremely experienced, the 6'6" Hanescu has a booming game and has been a top 100 player since 2003, currently ranked 61 with a high ranking of 26. A tough ask for Greg, ranked at 375 this week, but having dropped ranking due ti injury and illness in 2012.
On a very windy, cool but sunny day, Greg started nervously and the Romanian was quick to hold serve, break Greg and hold serve again to go out to a quick 3-0 lead. Greg adjusted to the conditions and started serving better, holding serve, less easily than Hanescu though, with games going to 5-2, Hanescu with the advantage. Hanescu then applied pressure to Greg's serve and got him to deuce but Greg held firm, to take the score to 5-3. Greg was unable to make inroads into the tall Hanescu's serve and Hanescu served out the set, 6-3.
Greg was serving first in the second set and held serve confidently in the tough breezy conditions, but Hanescu was equally as good, again holding serve more easily than Greg, games going with serve to 5-5, with neither player giving up a break point opportunity. In two long games, serves prevailed again and the players went to the tie-break at 6-6.
Greg was quickly up a break in the tie-break but Hanescu pegged him back to swop ends at 3-3, then led 4-3 on serve. Greg stepped up and held both his serve to get to 5-3 up. He then broke Hanescu to get to set point at 6-4, with Hanescu still to serve. Greg needed this point to avoid having to serve for the set, to level the match and he went for it, breaking Hanescu and winning the tie-break 7-4, the set 7-6, to level the match at one set all.

Victor Hanescu

Hanescu was still thinking of the tie-break as he started serving in the 3rd set and Greg pounced, bringing up two break points and converting on the second one to break Hanescu and lead 1-0. But the experienced Hanescu was not going away and bounced straight back, raising his game and breaking to get level at 1-1. Games were keenly contested but went with serve to 3-2, Hanescu holding to love. He then forced Greg to break-point but Greg denied him and after a long deuce game held serve to get to 3-3. Games then went with serve, Greg unable to make any gains on Hanescu's serve, and holding his own serve well, to again get to the tie-break at 6-6.
A very determined Greg attacked and broke Hanescu  and then held serve to lead 3-0, then broke again to get to 4-0. Hanescu hedl for 4-1 before Greg served to get to 5-1 up. Hanescu upped the ante and broke Greg, denying the opportunity to get to match point, the score at 5-2. Hanescu held serve to get to 5-4, then Greg had to serves to win the match. Hanescu had other ideas and broke Greg to level at 5-5. If he broke Greg again, he would serve for the match. Greg needed a 1st serve but could only serve a fault, but with steely resolve held on his second serve to bring up match point at 6-5, on Hanescu's serve. Two good first serves saw him deny Greg the match point and then bring up match point at 7-6. Greg's turn to feel the pressure and he missed the 1st serve but held, then won the next point again on his 2nd serve, to get to 8-7 up. His match point, but on Hanescu's serve. This time Hanescu held on a 2nd serve and with a booming 1st serve brought up match point his way, at 9-8. Greg stepped up and denied Hanescu with an ace, changing ends at 9-9. Another ace saw him again bring up match point at 10-9, but again on Hanescu's serve. This time though Greg was able to match Hanescu and won the point, closing out the tie-break at 11-9, winning a hard fought, nerve-wracking thirrd set 7-6 and taking a dramatic victory, in a match lasting two and a half hours, 3-6, 7-4(4), 7-6(9), to qualify for an ATP tour event for only the second time in his career.
Well done Greg. All that training and hitting over the past month paying off.