USA in the Autumn 2016 - Fairfield #2

The second round of qualifying saw Greg up against on old mate who he played doubles with in his first year of ITF Juniors, 28 year old Chilean Hans Podlipnik-Castillo, currently ranked 366. Hans won eight Futures singles and eleven doubles titles in Futures and Challengers last year, so will be a tough test for Greg. They have not played each other previously.
It was a match of differing sets for Greg, especially in the serving department. He did not start well and struggled to find his rhythm and first serve early in the first set and was broken early on by Podlipnik-Castillo, who was in the groove and held serve to take the score to 5-3. He then brought up 3 set points on Greg's serve but Greg responded, getting back to deuce and then holding serve, to get to 4-5, and force Podlipnik-Castillo to serve out the set. But to no avail as he did so, taking the first set 6-4.

Old mate Hans Podlipnik-Castillo

By contrast, in the second set, again serving first, Greg found his rhythm and starting nailing those first serves, only dropping two points on serve in the set. He served three consecutive love games to get to 3-2 up, then at 4-3 he forced Podlipnik-Castilloto deuce, then break point, converting to go 5-3 up. Greg then served out the game to love again, to win the set 6-3 and take the match to the third set.
Greg again served well in the third set, holding his serve more easily than Podlipnik-Castillo but was not able to bring up that crucial break point. Then at 2-3, serving with the old balls, Greg faced break point and was unable to hold, giving Podlipnik-Castillo the crucial break and a 4-2 lead. Greg fought back, getting Podlipnik-Castillo to deuce, but again was unable to bring up break point. Podlipnik-Castillo held firm and served out the set 6-3, winning a long 2 hour plus match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
A frustrated Greg bowed out in the second round of qualifying again. He had won far more points in the match than his opponent, yet came out on the losing side of the match.