Grass Season - s'-Hertogenbosch #2

In the second round of qualifying in the "Topshelf" tournament in s'-Hergotenbosch Greg was up against French rising star, 19 year-old Lucas Pouille, currently ranked 261, who had excelled at the French Open, winning his first round after receiving a wild card. But that was on clay and this was a grass court tournament, so he would be making the switch of surfaces with not much practice.
Greg took advantage of Pouille's lack of grass court practise and broke the Frenchman early to lead 3-1. Greg then served well, facing no break-points against him in the first set. At 5-3 he had a break-point opportunity to win the set but Pouille held his nerve and his serve to take the score to 5-4 and force Greg to serve for the set. This Greg did, winning the set 6-4.

The Centre Court

With Pouille serving first Greg again broke early to lead 2-1. However this time Pouille hit back immediately and had Greg at 0-30. Greg recovered to level at 30-30 but was unable to stop Pouille from breaking back to level at 2-2. Greg fought back, having two brerak-points in the next game but he was unable to convert, Pouille holding serve to lead 3-2. Games then went with serve to 6-6 and the tie-break. Pouille got an immediate lead in the tie-break to lead 2-0, then 4-2 and 5-3. Greg brok back to get back on serve at 5-4 but then lost his next serve, allowing Pouille to bring up set-point and win the tie-break 7-4, to level the match at 1 set all.

French youngster Lucas Pouille

Pouille now had his grass feet, Greg's serve had lost it's zing and Pouille was returning well. Greg said he played well but he was unable to make in-roads into Pouille's serve in the third set. Inevitably Pouille broke Greg to lead lead 3-1, then 4-1. At 4-2, Greg got Pouille to deuce but could not break the Frenchman who held for 5-2. He then put the pressure on Greg to stay in the match and brought up match-point on Greg's serve, converting the break-point to win the set 6-2, and a close match 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Greg in Cascais, Portugal

Greg was disappointed but said he had served and played well and had matched Pouille, but Pouille had won the critical points. Pouille qualified, losing to Jeremy Chardy in the first round.
Greg did not make the cut for Wimbledon qualifying, so had a short six-day break in London and Cascais, Portugal with his parents. He then went back to Florida to train for a week before travelling to Manta, in Ecuador, for a Challenger tournament on hard court.