Japan then USA Tour 2013 #1

Kyoto in Japan was the venue for the next Challenger and most of the higher ranked Australian players had taken the trip there to compete. Greg was drawn against his younger compatriot a 20 year-old Queenslander Ben Mitchell, currently ranked 375 but with a high tank of 209. Ben is a very good mover and very fit and should return well on the slick indoor carpet surface.

Kyoto colours of Autumn



 Mitchell commenced the serving, but it was Greg who was quick out of the blocks, serving well and getting to 2-2. He then forced Mitchell to face 5 break points, eventually converting the 5th point, after Mitchell had come up with a good serve on each of the other points, and going 3-2, then 4-2 up. Greg was serving very well at over 80% and games went to 5-4, with Greg to serve for the set. His adrenalin was running high and Greg missed three first serves and Mitchell capitalised, breaking Greg to love and levelling the set at 5-5, games going to the tie-break at 6-6.

In the tie-break it was Greg who got the first break to go 3-2 up. Serving big, Greg unfortunately hit a double fault to allow Mitchell to get the break back and then fell behind a break. Greg rallied and won both of Mitchell's serves to go ahead a break again, but history repeated itself and another double fault by Greg saw the score levelled at 5-5. Greg held serve to bring up set point at 6-5 but on Mitchell's serve. It was a much relieved Grey who broke Mitchell to snaffle the set which he had dominated but almost lost 7-6.

Aussie Ben Mitchell

The second set saw both players serve at a low percentage but each managed to hold serve. Mid set both players had long deuce games but neither gave up break point opportunities, games going nervously along to 5-4 on serve, with Greg ahead. Greg applied the pressure on young Mitchell, who was serving to stay in the set, getting Mitchell to deuce and then bringing up the only break point of the set, also a match point for Greg. He won the point and the game, set and match 7-6(5), 6-4.
Greg said he had realised his serve had deserted him and played accordingly, to eek out a win. It was not pretty he said. He is battling the onset of a cold but only has doubles duty on Tuesday so has time to recover for his next singles match on Wednesday.