Australasian Spring - Melbourne #1

After a week's break in Melbourne, trying to recover from back stiffness, shake off a cold and train in winterish Melbourne weather, it was back into the fray for Greg in the ATP $50k Challenger tournament at Melbourne Park. With his doubles match scheduled for Monday postponed due to rain, his singles match took precedence, with the double match to follow later, weather permitting. The miserable Melbourne weather continued and it was a low 18 degrees, with drizzly rain and gusty winds that greeted Greg and his opponent for the match, drizzle delaying the start of the match from 10am to 12:45pm.

Melbourne Park Tennis Precinct By a quirk of the draw god's Greg was drawn against his doubles partner for the tournament, 26 year-old Englishman and good friend James Ward, currently ranked 180, with a high rank of137. Greg and Wardy have played each other a few times, with Greg slightly ahead in the head-to-head. It was an inauspicious start for both players, Greg saving three break points in the opening service game before holding, whilst Ward emulated Greg, saving two break points, in getting to 1-1. Ward then forced Greg to 0-40 and converted the first break opportunity to go a break up. He consolidated the break to lead 3-1. Greg fought back, holding serve and then bringing up break- back points on Ward's serve. Ward saved to get to deuce but Greg managed to break him, levelling the score at 3-3. Then in the next game Greg failed to close out the game at 40-30 and Ward broke Greg again to lead 4-3, then 5-3. This time Greg could not get the break back and Ward served out the set to win it 6-4.

 Brit James Ward Greg was quickly into trouble in the cold, breazy weather in the second set, saving from 0-40 down to get to deuce but he could not hold and Ward went a break up at 1-0, then held for a 2-0 lead. Greg said his back was really sore and stiff and so he had an injury time-out to have the physiotherapist work on his lower back. At the resumption of play, with Greg serving, the third game proved to be decisive as Greg again failed to close out the game at 40-30 and Ward broke Greg again to lead with a double break 3-0, then holding for a 4-0 lead. Ward was in the groove now and won the remaining games against a frustrated Greg, struggling with his serve and movement,  to deliver a 'bagel' 6-0 set win and win the match 6-4, 6-0.

Not the kindest draw for Greg given the relative weakness of the entrants. Greg said he was not moving well due to his sore back and he got frustrated in the end.

The doubles matches were postponed again as the weather closed in and play was cancelled for the day.