Americas in the Spring 2013 #14



Finals Day Order of Play

Finals day at the Tallahassee Challenger saw Greg in rare attendance, with partner Peter Polansky of Canada, in the doubles. They were up against the No.1 seeded pairing of Americans, 22 year-old Austin Krajicek and 21 year-old Tennys Sandren, ranked 130 and 165 respectively in the doubles, so a very handy doubles pair.

Tallahassee Court side atmosphere

Greg started serving first and held serve well, as did Sandgren. Peter was forced to save break point at deuce in the next games and did so to get to 2-1. They then got Krajicek to 15-40 and capitalised, breaking serve to go 3-1 up. The Americans fought back, getting Greg to Deuce but he came up trumps, holding to consolidate the break, for a 4-1 lead. They then repeated the dose on Sandgren's serve to have Peter serve for the set at 5-1. Peter confidently got to 40-0 before the nerves set in, and the Americans saved three set points to get the score back to deuce, and have Peter and Greg face sudden death game or break point. Fortunately they converted to snare the first set 6-1.

Tennys Sandgren

Sandgren led off the 2nd set and at 1-0 up had Peter facing 4 break points at 0-40. Peter and Greg dug deep and saved those break point to thankfully hold serve. Krajicek and Greg confidently held serve to go to 2-2, then Sandgren saved at deuce for a 3-2 lead. Peter, who had served well all week and in the first set then got to 40-30 up and with game point inexplicably served two double faults to hand the break of serve to the Americans. Greg and Peter fought back and got Krajicek to deuce but he managed to save for a 5-2 lead. The Americans were on a roll and broke Greg to 15 in the next game to win the second set 6-2 and take the match to the 3rd set match tie-break.

Peter and Greg returning serve

After the sit-down Greg and Peter bounced back and broke the Americans' first point but the Americans replied in kind and levelled at 1-1, points then going with serve until 4-4. Greg and Peter then broke and led 5-4, Greg holding his next two serves to lead 7-4. The Americans replied, holding their serve to close the gap to 6-7 but Peter and Greg still held the advantage with a mini-break but the pressure was on. 

Austin Krajicek (thanks to Zoo Tennis)



Peter faltered with a double fault for the score to be levelled at 7-7, then lost the next point for the American to go 8-7 up and then hold serve, winning five points in a row to bring up two match points at 9-7. Greg and Peter saved the first point, getting back on serve at 8-9, with Greg to serve.

Unfortunately the Americans were able to break again, winning the point to win the match tie-break 18-0 and take out the doubles title with a 1-6, 6-2, 10-8. Krajicek and Sandgren had hung tough, coming from behind in the match from a set down and then in the tie-break, from a break down, to justify their seeding and use their double play experience to win an entertaining match.
Greg said although disappointed he was happy with his performance and had played well but it was not to be on the day.