Oz Summer 2012-13 #24

In Sydney for the inaugural Challenger tournament to be held at the Olympic Tennis Centre at Homebush, it was doubles duty first up for Greg, who was playing with his good Canadian mate, 24 year-old Peter Polansky. They were up against the two in-form players of the Australian contingent this summer, Queenslander John Millman, who had excelled in the ATP250 in Brisbane and won the Challenger in Burnie, and the Northern Beaches' Matt Barton, who won the Challenger in Adelaide, both good friends of Greg.

Partner Peter Polansky

With Millman and Barton serving first games went with serve to 2-2, then Greg & Peter brought up two break point opportunities and concerted the second point at "sudden death" deuce to take a 3-2 lead and then held serve to consolidate the break at 4-2. At 5-4 up Greg sever for the set but their opponents hit back. Two returns to Greg's feet saw him volley up and the other capitalised, breaking back and levelling the set, games going to the tie- break at 6-6. Both teams held the advantage in the tie-break but it was Greg and Peter who consolidated and went ahead, winning the tie-break 7-4 and the set 7-6.

Matt Barton

Millman and  Barton were straight on the attack in the second set and broke Greg and Peter in the first game then proceeded to hold serve, games going to 5-3. They then again broke Greg and Peter again to win the second set comfortably 6-3.

John Millman

In the new shortended doubles format the 3rd set is a match tie-break only, first to ten points with a tw point advantage. Greg and Peter broke their opponents first serve but Millmand an Barton broke back immediately and raced to a 7-3 lead. Greg and Peter held their serves to get to 4-7, then 4-8, then broke to get to 5-8 with two serves to come. They held to get to 7-8. Barton served an ace to bring up match point at 9-7. Big serving Barton missed his serve and they were able to save and get to 8-9, still match point down but on their own serve. They held then brought up match point of their own 10-9, but on Millman's serve. He saved and levelled the score at 10-10. Greg and Peter then broke and led 11-10 with match point on their serve this time. They gratefully converted, winning the tie-break 12-10 and squeaking out a 7-6, 3-6, 12-10 win to advance to the second set.