In the third round of qualifying in Claremont, Greg, the
No.1 seed, was up against 20 year-old Dutchman Max De Vroome, currently ranked
2131. Big serving De Vroome plays No. 3 in college tennis at USC, who won 4
national titles in a row, so will be a sterner test for Greg.
On a sunny 36 deg day, on a lively hard court, games went
quickly with serve, with the giant Dutchman "serving bombs out of a
tree" and there were no breaks first set in the set. In the tie-break Greg
was able to get the vital break and skipped ahead to pouch the tie-break 7-2,
and take the set 7-6.
With the balls getting older and softer there were five
breaks of serve in the second set, unfortunately three to De Vroome and only to
to Greg, with De Vroome winning the set 7-5 at the death. In the third set Greg
was starting to tire after two hours in the 36 degree heat. His second serve
was letting him down under pressure, having not served kick serves for almost 5
months his second serve is still a work in progress, but improving every match
he plays. Greg gave away a break of serve at 1-2 and De Vroome capitalised.
Greg was unable to get the break back and De Vroome held on to his serve to the
end, winning the third set 6-3 and a long, hot match 67(2), 7-5, 6-3.
A close match for Greg but not the result he desired. It
could have gone either way in the second set but was not to be. Disappointing
for Greg as he was hoping to get more match practise, but perhaps a blessing in
disguise in that at this stage of his come-back it may have been too much
tennis, too much serving for his shoulder in one week. He is going to try and
get into the doubles which will give him more court time, albeit in shorter and
less intense serving circumstances.
De Vroome qualified anreached the second round of the Main Draw.
In the doubles Greg played alongside his friend Greg Ouellette. Greg said he played well but the same could not be said of Ouellette, and they went down to a USA College pairing of Helliar and Manlow, both from Great Britain, 6-3, 6-3.
De Vroome qualified anreached the second round of the Main Draw.
In the doubles Greg played alongside his friend Greg Ouellette. Greg said he played well but the same could not be said of Ouellette, and they went down to a USA College pairing of Helliar and Manlow, both from Great Britain, 6-3, 6-3.
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