Aussie Summer 2015-16 #4

Greg arrived in Japan refreshed and keen to play competitive tennis again, travelling for three hours by fast train from Tokyo to Toyota, with two days to prepare and get used to the slick, fast indoor courts, always a feature of playing late in the year in Japan, and a decided advantage to the Japanese players, who are used to the surface. The draw was not good news for Greg: he had drawn the No.1 seed, 27 year-old Matt Ebden, who was in good form having battled his way back to the cusp of being top 100 again, currently ranked 103 in the ATP and hoping to improve on that to gain certainty of direct entry into the Australian Open. No doubt a match Matt would want to win, just as much as Greg did. It was going to be an interesting match.
Greg led off the serving, and on the fast courts held easily. He then had Ebden go to deuce but could not get a break point, games going to 2-2. Then at 30-30 Greg made a meal of an straight forward volley and then left a volley that dropped in, to hand a break of serve to Ebden, who then held to lead 4-2. Greg fought back though, much to Ebden's annoyance, breaking back to level at 4-4, celebrating with a fist pump, then taking the lead 5-4, then 6-5. But Ebden held serve to take the first set to the tie-break.

Matt Ebden

In the tie-break Greg got the first break, going 2-1 up, then holding serve to lead 4-1. He broke Ebden again to lead 5-1, with a double break. Ebden then appeared to be limping and handed the next two points and the tie-break to Greg 7-1 and the set 7-6.
Then during the set break Ebden took a Medical Time Out, getting some treatment for a leg ailment. Ebden started the second set confidently, holding serve to love. But he was stretching his legs and doing squats to test his leg. Greg held serve then crafted two break-points on a slower moving Ebden, but Ebden slapped some serves and forehands, landing them to get back to deuce and hold serve. Greg held comfortably as did Ebden, the score going to 3-2 in Ebden's favour, whereupon Ebden walked to the net to shake Greg's hand and retire from the match, giving Greg the victory 7-6(1), 2-3.
A surprising result for Greg and vindication of his decision to travel to Toyota, having earned a much needed 5 points, with potentially more to come in the next round. Greg was delighted with the result. He was unsure whether Ebden had carried an injury into the match, or if not, when he had incurred the injury. Ebden only showed signs of any injury when he went down 5-1 in the tie-break, appearing comfortable before that, but one will never know what happened.