American Summer 2013 - Vancouver #1

In Vancouver for the next Challenger Tournament, this one a level higher at $100k, Greg has dealt a challenge in the first round, drawn against the No. 7 seed, 26 year-old German Mischa Zverev, currently ranked 140. Zverev was a top 100 player four years in a row, with a high rank of 45 in June 2009. He slipped down the rankings over the past two years to about 270, perhaps through injury, but is now making his way back to the top.



Scenic Vancouver

With Greg serving first it was Zverev who got the first break-point opportunity, forcing Greg to 15-40. Greg saved the first point but could not deny Zverev, who went a break up, the score going to 4-3. Zverev held to lead 4-3. Greg did like-wise and then put pressure on Zverev to serve our the set at 5-4. The pressure told and Greg forced Zverev to face break-point, breaking the German to level the set at 5-5. Zverev was straight back at Greg though, forcing him to 15-40. Greg managed to save those break points to get to deuce, but Zverev brought up another and converted to again go ahead at 6-5. Greg forced Zverev to 30-30 but could not stop him serving out the game to win the first set 7-5.

Starting the second set both players held serve then Zverev broke Greg to go ahead 2-1. Greg fought back and was able to break Zverev, games going to 3-3. Greg had another break-point opportunity but could not break Zverev, who held tight to get the second set to the tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break Greg won the first point with an ace, them broke Zverev to go 2-0 up. They then both held serve, for Greg to lead 4-1. Greg then pouched the next two points off Zverev's serve to have five set points at 6-1, serving out the tie-break with another ace, to win the tie-break 7-1 and the set 7-6, levelling the match at a set all.

German Mischa Zverev

The third set went with serve to 3-2, Zverev leading, when Greg, having served 9 out if 10 serves to start the set, missed 4 out of 5 first serves and Zverev capitalised, breaking Greg to lead 4-2. Greg hit back immediately, breaking Zverev and holding serve to level at 4-4. He then forced Zverev to 0-30, but four good points saw Zverev hold serve and lead 4-5. He then forced Greg, serving to stay in the match, to 0-40 and bring up three match points. Greg responded and saved those points to get to deuce, but Zverev brought up another match point. Again Greg saved and then held serve to get to 5-5. Zverev held serve, as did Greg, to take the third set to the tie-break.

Greg was immediately in attack in the tie-break, getting a mini-break 1st point and holding serve to go 3-0 up. Zverev took the score to 2-3 and then Greg held serve to go 5-2 up. He then brought up match point with another mini-break of Zverev's serve and then repeated the break to win the tie-break 7-2, the set 7-6 and a memorable match 5-7, 7-6(1), 7-6(2).

A match in which Greg, whilst not serving at his best throughout, showed true grit, and a never-say-die attitude, to come back in all three sets and then serve very well in both tie-breaks, luck playing some part in him being able to save four match points in the third set.