Australasian Spring - Sydney #1



After an intensive two week training session in Melbourne, mainly at Melbourne Park on the indoor courts due to the rainy and windy conditions, it was back to Sydney for Greg to play in a Futures tournament. Not his first choice of tournaments, Greg was playing the Futures tournament rather than travel back to the USA just for a couple of weeks before playing Challengers back in Melbourne and Asia. It would hopefully give him some valuable match time.


Greg training at Homebush

Seeded No. 1 for the tournament, Greg got a favourable draw in the form of a qualifier, in this instance 17 year old Andrej Lukic, as yet unranked on the ATP tour. An unfortunate draw for young Lukic hoping to gain his first ranking point.In blustery, windy conditions, Greg was asked  to serve first. Greg held serve easily and then broke Lukic, to lead 2-0, then held serve to love, to get to 3-0. Lukic upped his game and held serve but another love service game, followed by another break of serve, saw Greg serve for the set at 5-1. He finished the set off with an ace, winning the set 6-1.
With Lukic serving first in the second set, games went to 1-1, Greg then forced Lukic to face multiple break points. He stepped up and saved three break opportunities before a net cord off an angled shot by Greg gave Greg the break and a 2-1 lead. Three aces, a double fault and an unreturnable first serve saw Greg progress to 3-1.


Greg serving to Lukic

In the next game Greg again forced Lukic to face multiple break points but was frustrated by an erratic Lukic saving them with some excellent line shots, eventually holding serve in a long deuce game. Greg took the score to 4-2 and then repeated the long game on Lukic's next service game, this time a frustrated Greg converting to gain the break on the fourth break point opportunity, for a 5-2 lead. Greg finished the match, as he did the 1st set, with an ace, for a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 win.An easy start for Greg in the tournament, in blustery windy conditions, which inhibited Greg's big game style but seemed to trouble his less experienced opponent more. Greg will play his second round on Wednesday.