Oz Summer 2012-13 #7

The second round of the single of the Heineken Open in Auckland draw threw up an extremely challenging match for Greg. When an unseeded player beats a seeded player in the first round of an ATP 250 tournament he is guaranteed to meet another unseeded player in the second round. This Greg had done in beating the No. 6 seed and he did then get an unseeded player in the next round but this player was no  

Monfils at full stretch


ordinary player ranked at 99. It was former World No.7, a regular top ten player, 26 year-old Gael Monfils who has been sidelined by injury and had thus lost his ranking position and was on the comeback trail, granted a wild card into the tournament. Unfortunate for Greg, because Monfils is an player with tremendous flair and skill, tall with a big serve, and on his day he can beat anyone. He is unpredictable though, and perhaps Greg could catch Monfils on a bad day, a bit rusty after being off the circuit for a while and not match fit. 



Forehand from Greg

Greg, no doubt nervous on a packed Centre Court, opened with a good service game, as did Monfils, to get to 1-1. Monfils then upped the ante and attacked Greg's serve, breaking Greg to love to lead 2-1, then 3-1. Greg struggled to deuce in the next game but held serve to keep the score close. He then pressured Monfils to have two break points at 15-40 but Monfils saved both point and won the game to go 4-2 up. games went with serve to 5-3 and Greg was forced to fight for the next game to prevent Monfils breaking to win the set. He was able to do so but was then unable to prevent Monfils from prevailing 6-4 to win the first set.

Hotdog!

Greg held the first service game to love in the second set and then forced Monfils to deuce in the next game but was unable to bring up a break-point opportunity and Monfils levelled at 1-1. Monfils then broke Greg in the next game and held serve to go to a 3-1 lead. Games went to 4-2 with serve and then Monfils pounced getting Greg to 0-40. Greg saved one break-point but could not stop Monfils from taking a double break lead, 5-2 up. Greg rallied and pushed Monfils to 30-30 but was Monfils was up to the task and served out the game, winning the second set 6-2 and the match 6-4, 6-2.

An end to the giant-killing run of Greg but a match that he would have enjoyed playing. A great experience on Centre Court against a top player in an ATP tour level tournament, with relative success and his first ATP tour level win, and two wins over high ranked top 100 players in a week. Much confidence and experience to be gained by Greg from this week's tournament.