OZ Summer 2012-13 #9



Warming up on Margaret Court Arena

The second round of the Men's Doubles at the Australian Open was scheduled as the 7pm match on Margaret Court Arena. Greg and partner Alex Bolt were drawn to meet the No.10 seeds but they were beaten by experienced doubles players Italian Daniele Bracciali and Czech Lukas Dlouhy. The 35 year old Bracciali is currently ranked 24 in doubles and, whilst now unranked in singles, boasts a career high ranking of 49. Similarly 29 year old Dlouhy is currently ranked 84 in doubles, with a high rank of 5 in 2009, with two Grand Slam doubles titles to his name. A very experienced and well credentialled doubles pairing, who will be a tough challenge for the Aussies, playing together for only the second time. 

Alex and Greg to receive

In front of a nearly full Margaret Court Arena, on a cool Melbourne evening, Greg opened the serving and held serve well, calming the Aussies nerves.

Dlouhy held serve and then young Bolt showed what he is capable of, stepping up and serving well to get the Aussies 2-1 up. But they were unable to make a dent in their opponents serve and at 2-2, after missing a few first serve Greg was broken, and games went to 4-2.

The Aussies were then again broken, allowing the Italian and Czech pairing to serve for the set. The Aussies pushed them to 40-30 but were not able to apply any more pressure and the set was gone, 6-2.

Greg serves a bomb



An early break in the second set saw the Aussies trail 1-3, but they played some good doubles tennis, using pace and good returning to overpower their more experienced opponents, and broke back to level the score at 4-4. Both pairings held for 5-5 and then Bolt served well to take the score to 6-5 up. Dlouhy stepped up to keep their team in the set and the Aussies attacked, quickly getting to 0-40, and have three set points. But Dlouhy came up with three first serves, nothing outstanding  



The Aussies change ends

but the Aussies were not able to get a return back and Dlouhy got back to deuce and then hit two bomb first serves to close out the game and take the set to the tie-break at 6-6.

The Aussies were quickly up a break in the tie-break but their opponents broke back and changed ends at 3-3, then led 4-3. With Greg serving Bolt missed a volley into the net and they fell behind 5-3. Greg then felt the pressure after missing his first serve and netted the second serve for a double fault, giving the Italian-Czech pairing 3 match points at 6-3, and on their serve. The Aussies played a great point to save the first match point but were unable to stop Dlouhy and Bracciali winning the tie-break 7-4 and a hard fought, entertaining match 6-2, 7-6.

Daniele Bracciali




Lukas Dlouhy

It was a pity the Aussies could not get that vital break at 6-5 in the 2nd set to take the match into the 3rd set, as there were signs that they were starting to rattle their opponents and were growing in confidence but it was not to be and the experience of their opponents was telling in the tie-break.

Greg was pleased that he had been part of the Australian Open 2013 and even more pleased with his and Alex Bolt's performances.