It was a still very sick Greg, suffering from a severe bout of flu, with a bad cough and massive headache, who headed from Kyoto to Jacksonville, Florida on a very long flight. Greg had two weeks of training with former world No. 4 player, American Todd Martin, ahead of him. After a few more days recuperation, it was fully into training at Todd's academy, on and off court, with some tactics and counselling thrown in, as Greg still had remnants of the flu, especially a nasty rasping cough.
Towards the end of the training block, Greg was joined in Miami by good friend Dave Bidmeade, who will be travelling and working with Greg for awhile this year. The pair then set off for Mexico, to play in the qualifying of a Challenger tournament in San Luis Posoti, on clay. Due to Greg's low ranking at the moment, Greg was 11th on the alternate list, so was scheduled to play in the qualifying rounds. On arrival they were greeted with the good news that sufficient players ahead of him in the draw and in the list had withdrawn, and Greg was the last direct acceptance in the main draw, thus avoiding three rounds of qualifying. Good news, especially as Greg's flu had returned, although not as severe as previously, so he was back in recovery mode and on the antibiotics. He now also had a few more days in which to recover.
Greg had avoided a seeded player and his first round match was against 27 year-old Italian, Riccardo Ghedin, an experienced clay court campaigner, currently ranked 268, with a high ranking of 222. Being the last direct entry, every player in the draw would be ranked higher than Greg, so this was a relatively good draw for him. How would he go in his first match back after three weeks off, and still suffering the effects of flu?
With Greg serving first, they swopped breaks of serve in getting to 3-3. Greg then saved break point to go 4-3 up. He then again forced Ghedin to break-point, breaking him to go 5-3 up and serve for the set, doing so, to win the set 6-3.
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| Italian Riccardo Ghedin |
Ghedin served first in the second set and at 1-1 Greg had Ghedin facing three break points at 0-40. He rallied and saved them, getting to deuce, then had game point but Greg denied him and brought up another break point, this time breaking to go 2-1 up. Ghedin turned up the heat and had Greg facing break point in the next game. Greg hung tough, saving then break, then holding serve to consolidate the break at 3-1. Greg then broke Ghedin again and held serve to lead 5-1. Ghedin made it 5-2 and forced Geeg to serve for the match, always the hardest game. 0-15, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30 then break point at 30-40! But Greg saved and brought up match point, converting to win the set 6-2 and advance to the second round with a hard fought 6-3, 6-2 win.
A confidence boosting win for Greg, who thought it was a great result. He says he is still only at 85% health wise, and less fitness wise, but is feeling a lot better and with his next match only scheduled for Thursday, Mexico time , he was some more time to recover.
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