Oz Summer 2012-13 #15

Aerial view of the Westlakes area

In Westlakes, Adelaide a hot day greeted the players for the first round of the singles. Third match on in the heat of the day, Greg was up against another Aussie, good friend and fellow New South Welshman 25 year-old Adam Feeney, a tough competitor who playes equally as well from the back of the court as serve and volleying, currently ran.ked just ahead of Greg at 298.
Adam served first and Greg took advantage of a tentative Feeney, obviously nervous for this first round encounter, breaking Feeney in the first game aided by a double fault by Feeney. Greg consolidated the break and then Feeney got into his stride to get to 1-2. But Greg kept the pressure on and broke Feeney again and then held again to lead 5-1. Feeney served to stay in the match but Greg got him to 15-40 and then was gifted the break and the set 6-1, when Feeney again double faulted, his fifth double fault of the set.


Greg all concentration as he plays a backhand

Greg held serve in the first game of the second set and then again had Feeney at break-point. Feeney fought back and saved two break points before clinching the game, rallying and getting to 2-2. Feeney then took advantage of a lapse by Greg, who faced his first break-point at 15-40. He saved the first but Feeney won the next to break Greg 3-2, then 4-2. Greg knuckled down and began the fight back, holding serve to love and then breaking Feeney to get back to 4-4. Greg then fought back from 0-30 to lead 5-4 but was unable to break Feeney, games going with serve to 6-6 and the tie-break.

Adam Feeney

Greg got off to a flyer in the tie-break, holding serve and then breaking Feeney twice to lead 3-0. Two goof point on his serve got him to 5-0, then he broke Feeney again to have 6 match points at 6-0, going on to win the tie-break 7-1 and the match 6-1, 7-6.
A good performance by Greg who took advantage of his opponents poor serving game, with Feeney serving 10 double faults for the match, and serving and returning well himself, despite being hindered by a slight stomach strain, wdahich he suffered in the cold weather in Burnie. He is not shedued to play tomorrow, so will play again on Thursday.