Americas in the Spring 2013 #7

Having got into the main draw of the Mexico City Challenger with a bit of luck, Greg good fortune continued with a favourable draw, avoiding a seeded player and drawing a qualifier, which will give him a much better chance of advancing in the tournament given that he was suffering from a bout of diarrhea. His opponent was23 year-old Christopher Diaz-Figueroa from Guatemala, currently ranked 463, with a high rank of just 326 but with three match wins in the qualifying behind him, which may or may not be a benefit. 

The first set was a close affair with the player's swopping a break of serve each, and both also saving a break-point opportunity, in eventually getting to the tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break it was Diaz-Figueroa who got the valuable mini-break, then brought up set-point and converted to win the tie-break 7-3 and the 1st set 7-6.

Scene at the courts

The second set started badly for Greg who lost a bit of concentration and dropped serve early in the set to hand the advantage to Diaz-Figueroa, who went out to a 3-0 lead. Greg held serve easily for the rest of the set but could not make in-roads into Diaz-Figueroa's serve. Diaz-Figueroa shut Greg out, not facing a break point in the set, and the single break of serve was enough to see him win the set 6-3 and a hard fought match 7-6(3) 6-3.

Christopher Diaz-Figueroa

Another disappointing close loss for Greg in a match he was expected to win. He said he had actually played well, serving bombs but Diaz-Figueroa had returned very well. Greg said Diaz-Figueroa is based in Mexico City so knows the conditions and is used to the altitude and the higher bounce of the balls. Greg said the lack of oxygen at altitude had affected him and he had felt fatigued after just a few games, the effects of the recent stomach ailment not helping the cause.

Still not happy humting for Greg in Mexico, in a tournament where it seemed luck was on his side. He will now head for Jacksonville, Florida for a week of training with Todd Martin before heading off to the next tournament, most probably the Tallahassee Challenger.