Back in Oz - Traralgon Challenger1 #1

Park in Traralgon

Following the agonisingly close defeat in Toowoomba, Greg spent a week training in Melbourne before travelling to Traralgon, along with Aussie mate Jarryd Chaplin, to play in the qualifying for the first of two Challenger tournaments to be held there in consecutive weeks. Greg should have been in the main draw but his management group, who always do his tournament entries, somehow neglected to use his protected ranking for this tournament, so Greg had to play qualifying. Something Greg has now corrected for future tournaments.
Seeded 6, Greg's first round opponent was as yet unranked teenager Aussie, 18 year-old Lawrence Bataljin, from South Australia. Whilst unranked, Bataljin has qualified for a number of tournament and at Toowoomba led eventual title winner Jarmere Jenkins 5-0 in the third set, after winning the first set, only to capitulate, losing seven game in a row to lose 5-7.


Bataljin at West Lakes Challenger

Serving first, it was a repeat for Greg of the last tournament's first set, Greg holding serve well and breaking Bataljin twice to lead 5-0. Unlike Toowoomba, Bataljin managed to win a game, and force Greg to serve out the set, Greg winning it 6-1.The second set saw Greg ease up and Bataljin get into his rhythm. Greg twice had Bataljin at 15-40 but failed to convert the opportunities and the score remained close. Greg did manage to get the break against Bataljin and at 5-4 served for the match. Inexplicably, with the end in sight, at 30-30 Greg served two double faults and gave up an easy break of serve, allowing Bataljin to break back to 5-5. Games then went with serve to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg then took charge and went ahead in the tie-break, gaining the advantage before winning the tie-break 7-3 and the match 6-1, 7-6.
Greg said that whilst the score was close in the second set he always felt he was in control. He failed to capitalise on the opportunities he created and will need to tighten up his game in the next rounds.