Grass Season - Manta on Hard #4

In the quarter-final round of the Manta Challenger, Greg's opponent was another up and coming ex-junior player, 21 year-old Andreas Collarini of Argentina. Born in New York and currently residing in Boca Rotan, Collarini had moved from NY to Argentina with his parents at the age of 3, where he grew up. His junior career has very similar to Greg's, having attained a top rank of 5 and been a finalist at the French Open. Due to this Collarini had been wooed by the USA to play under their banner and for awhile he was trained and coached by the USTA but has now reverted back to representing Argentina. Lower ranked in the ATP at 355 than his junior stats suggest, Collarini will be a dangerous player for Greg to play.

Greg served first and held, as did Collarini, games going to 3-3 with both players serving well. Then from 40-15 up Greg lost four points in a row to lose his serve, for Collarini to lead 4-3, then 5-3. Greg held for 5-4 but could not break Collarini, who pouched the first set 6-4.

Greg in action in the QF round

Both players held serve to start the second set, then Collarini forced Greg to 30-40, converting the opportunity to take a critical advantage at 2-1. He consolidated the break at 3-1, and with both players serving well games went quickly with mainly love games to 5-4, Collarini still leading. Greg had desperately tried to make inroads into Collarini's serve but he just served too well. With Collarini serving for the match at 5-4 Greg kept the pressure on and Collarini buckled, Greg forcing him to 0-40 to have three break points. Collarini saved one point but was unable to stop Greg breaking and Greg was back in the match at 5-5.

Argentinian Andreas Collarini

Greg still had work to do and Collarini hit back hard, forcing Greg to face break point. This time Greg saved and held serve to go up 6-5. Collarini held serve to take the set into a tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break Greg got an early break and although Collarini got the break back Greg broke again to lead 4-2 at the change of ends, then held the lead all the way to win the tie-break 7-3, and the set 7-6 to level the match at a set all.
Greg immediately pressed Collarini in the third set and had him defending break-points at 15-40 in the first game. Collarini got it back to deuce twice before Greg broke to lead 1-0. Collarini tried his best to get the break back but Greg was now playing with confidence and serving well, games going to 4-2. Greg said that he could see Collarini's head drop and he took advantage, breaking Collarini again to lead 5-2 and serve for the match, bringing up three match points. Collarini kept fighting though, saving two points but in the end Greg converted, winning the thirrd set 6-2, and a hard fought match 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, to progress to the semi-final round.
It was an intense match in which Greg never gave back, showing fighting qualities to turn it around and then go on with the win. He served well throughout at 67% first serves, with 12 aces and 4 double faults, winning 80% of his first serves.