Australian Autumn 2017 - Canberra #2

After a good hit-out in the doubles but a disappointing loss, it was singles next for Greg in the first of two Futures tournaments in Canberra. He had avoided a seed in the first round, up against 22 year old Queenslander Thomas Fancutt, with a family back ground in tennis, currently ranked 679 in singles.
In 30 knot wind, gusting to over 40 knots, and with Fancutt serving first, Greg got off to a great start, breaking Fancutt twice to go a double break up at 3-0. Seemingly in control Greg then only won one more game in the set against a resurgent Fancutt, dropping serve three times to go from 3-0 to 3-1, then 3-3, before steading to level at 4-4, but then dropping serve again to lose the set 6-4.
Greg knuckled down in the second set and held serve early on to get to 2-2, then he broke Fancutt to go a break up, serving a love game to consolidate the break at 4-2. He maintained the ascendency, serving out the set 6-4, levelling the match at one set all.

Thomas Fancutt, pictures here on
grass at Mildura

Serving first again, in the third set, Fancutt held serve to lead 1-0. Then chasing a wide ball Greg's one foot stuck in the clay whilst the other slid, causing Greg to go down hard on the court surface, banging the inside of both knees in an ungainly fall. Greg thought he had torn a ligament or torn a muscle and it was a few seconds before he gingerly got to his feet. The umpire called for the physio and Greg took a medical time-out delay while she assessed him to see if he was injured. Luckily it appeared as if he was just a bit bruised and there was no injury.
When play resumed, Greg was a bit wary of moving too much and Fancutt capitalised and managed to break Greg to lead 2-0. Despite Fancutt serving three aces in the next game Greg played more aggressively, trying to keep the points shirt. He fought back and broke Fancutt, to get to 1-2, only to be broken again in the next game to again trail by a break at 1-3. Then Fancutt gifted Greg another opportunity to break back by serving two double faults in the next game, and Greg seized the opportunity to get back and level at 3-3. With the momentum now his way Greg broke Fancutt again to lead 5-3. Fancutt held serve to force Greg to serve for the match at 5-4 but Greg was up to the task, winning the set 6-4, coming from a set down to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Another blustery Canberra day, on the clay, with a mixed performance but a good first up win.