Aussie Summer 2015-16 #17

Mildura Lawn Tennis Club, Victoria

As the heat in Mildura increased to 40 degrees, the heat in the tournament was to increase for Greg as he faced the No.1 seed in the semi-finals. Former ITF Junior No.1 player and double Junior Grand slam winner, at Australian and Wimbledon on grass, Luke Saville was Greg's opponent. Still a work in progress on the Men's Tour, Saville has seven Futures titles to his name, including Mildura in 2014, and is currently ranked 188, with an eye on attaining the top 100 ranking in the near future. A real test for Greg, with Saville definitely the favourite.

Former ITF Junior No.1 Luke Saville

Greg served first and got on the board before taking the game to Saville and breaking in his first service game to lead 2-0. Saville fought back and broke Greg immediately, somewhat luckily Greg thought with some close calls and a shank winner, but still the score was even at 2-2 as Saville held serve. Games then going with serve to 4-3 in Greg's favour. As the heat increased, Greg was able to convert another break point opportunity he created on Saville's serve, to serve for the set at 5-3. Although forced to deuce Greg was able to hold serve and win the first set 6-3.

Greg in the semis at Mildura

Greg was keen to press his advantage and broke Saville again early in the second set, then holding his own serve without ado, to maintain a break lead, getting the score to 3-1, then 4-2, then 5-3 without facing a break point on his serve. Greg then forced Saville to defend match point on Saville's serve, breaking Saville again to snare the match 6-3, 6-3, and advance to the final.
Greg said he had played well. He had not served as well as the previous two days but had been solid from the back of court and had returned well against the big serving Saville. He was glad to get off court fairly quickly and avoid too much time in the searing afternoon Mildura heat.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #16

Mildura Tennis Centre

 On another stinking hot day in Mildura, with temperatures predicted to soar to around 38 degrees, Greg faced up against the No. 4 seed in the quarter-finals. 23 year-old Queenslander Maverick Banes, currently ranked near his high ranking at 386 in the ATP, has two ITF Futures titles to his name, winning back to back tournament in Croatia in 2014, on clay. Hopefully, for Greg, Banes is not as good on grass as he is on clay. The two players have never played each other  in singles on the pro-circuit.
Greg served first, and got off to a good start. He then pegged back Banes from 40-15, winning four straight points to break Banes and go to an early 2-0 lead. Serving well with a high percentage of first serves, and also returning well against Banes, who was not serving badly, Greg was in the zone, as he proceeded to hold serve easily. He broke Banes twice more, to race through the first set, winning it impressively 6-0. A good score line but still only 1-0 up in sets, so Greg had to maintain his focus and intensity.

The trend did continue in the second set, as Greg improved his serving even more, holding then breaking Banes a fourth time, each break converted at the first opportunity, to go to a 3-0 lead. Banes managed to get on the score board, serving with new balls and holding to love. But, although Banes managed to get Greg to “30” twice in the following games, Greg was able to steady and hold serve, serving out the match at 5-3, to win a dominant match 6-0, 6-3.
It was an excellent match for Greg, his first serve percentage in the 70's, with 11 aces and no double faults, giving up no break point opportunities on his serve. He had also returned well and had dominated, wrapping up the match and getting off court as quickly as possible to avoid the draining heat.
He will play the semi-finals on Saturday.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #15

Mildura on the Murray River

More extreme weather faced the players on Thursday in Mildura for the second round of the singles, with temperatures soaring to 36 degrees as Greg played his match. Greg's opponent was a young Australian wild card recipient, 17 year old Mislav Bosnjak, of Croatian heritage, currently unranked on the ATP, but just having gained his first ranking point by virtue of his first round win, over another wild card. Greg will be happy and confident with this draw, but a bit anxious against an unknown player with nothing to lose, whose game he will have to adjust to quickly.
Serving first Greg took full advantage of Bosnjak's nervousness, attacking and getting an early break. Greg was not serving well himself but managed to save a break point in getting to 4-1, then 5-2 up. Greg applied the pressure as Bosnjak served to stay in the set, breaking Bosnjak to snare he first set 6-2.

Teenager Mislav Bosnjak

Again with the advantage of serving first in the set, Greg served a couple of aces to start the set, his and Bosnjak's serves improving throughout the match, and games went with serve to 3-3. A slight lapse in concentration, coupled with the energy sapping heat, saw him miss a few first serves and have Greg facing break point. In the heat the last thing Greg needed was to go behind and face the prospect of playing a third set. He scrambled the next point, a good first serve and a solid forehand winner on the line seeing him save the point, for him to serve out he game, to lead 4-3. 
Greg then made his intent clear with positive attacking play, forcing Bosnjak to multiple deuces and break points, winning on the third opportunity to get the vital break, to lead 5-3. Greg was not going to give up another chance to Bosnjak, racing to 40-0, before claiming the set 6-3 on the third match point, winning the match 6-2, 6-3.
A good draw for Greg, after he disposed on the No.8 seed, and last years finalist, in the first round. He had taken the opportunity well, recording his second win in a row in a main draw for the first time in over 18 months.
Now for the quarter-finals.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #14

The next tournament on the Australian Pro-circuit was in Mildura, in country Victoria, in the north-west corner of the state, near the South Australian and NSW borders. Situated right on the Murray River the picturesque town boast a quality grass court complex, which has hosted many Australian Pro-tour and Junior tournaments. On grass, a surface Greg describes as "fun to play on", as it is soft on the legs and feet and not damaging if you fall.
His opponent was the No.8 seed ,which, if you have to draw a seed, is the best of the bad bunch. 20 year-old Harry Bouchier, hails from Tasmania and is currently ranked 562. Greg had played many a match against Harry's elder brother Eddie in the juniors. Eddie attended college in the USA and has played some pro-circuit tournaments, attaining an ATP ranking, but generally leaves the pro-tennis to younger brother Harry, who he occassionally travels with and supports on tour. Greg and Harry have met once before, Harry winning on that occasion on hard court on a near gale force windy day in Adelaide.

The grass courts at Mildura

Harry served first and was the first to break through, a slow start from Greg seeing him serving at 0-3 down. In the next game Greg was staring at three break points at 0-40, but he managed to get back to deuce and then hold serve to get on the board at 1-3. He was unable to apply any pressure on Bourchier's serve though and Bourchier held serve to serve out the set 6-3.
Greg raced to 40-15 at the start of the second set, only for Bourchier to peg him back to deuce, then force break point and convert to take a strangehold on the match at as set and a break up, again easily holding serve to love to lead 2-0. Greg needed to lift, but again at 40-15, he allowed Bourchier back into the game and get to deuce. Greg was forced to save two break points to avoid what would have been a disastrous double-break. He eventually served an ace to finally hold serve and get to 1-2. 

Tasmanian Harry Bourchier

At this stage Greg  was not making any head way into Bouchier's service and Bourchier was picking off his serve, so Greg changed things up. He started standing in different places, then serving with different angles, trying to disrupt Bourchier's rhythm. He then brought up his first break point on Bourchier's serve, who might also have been a bit despondent at not achieving the vital second break of serve. Bourchier saved the first point but Greg managed to break back to level at 2-2, then quickly held serve to lead 3-2. At 4-3 Greg, growing in confidence and performance, especially on serve and return, broke Bourchier to lead 5-3, serving out the set 6-3 and levelling the match at one set all. '
Bourchier had the all important first service game in the third set and started well, but so did Greg, games going with serve to 2-2. Greg managed to stay close to Bourchier in the next game, then brought up break point at 30-40, converting the opportunity to grab a 3-2 lead. He the stepped up his game, winning his service game to love, to go to 4-2. He was in a groove now and did not face any break points in the third set, serving out the match with a ace, to win the third set 6-4, and a hard fought match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
A relieved Greg was pleased with the way the match had progressed, after a poor first set and some anxiety in the second set when he almost went a double break down. But he recovered well and was pleased to at last win a match at the end of a close third set.
Having not entered in the doubles Greg will next play on Thursday, in the second round of the singles.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #13

The industrial port town of Port Pirie

It was a warm but rainy and blustery day that greeted the players for the second round of the Port Pirie singles. Not the best weather for good tennis. Greg was up against an up and coming Australian teenager, 18 year old Marc Polmans, who is one of Greg's team mates at the Kooyong Tennis Club, currently ranked 865. Polmans, who was a promising junior winning the Australian Open Junior Boys doubles title last year, is showing good form having knocked off the No.2 seed Alex Bolt in three sets. A stern challenge for Greg, still on the come-back trail.

In the howling wind Greg started well breaking Polmans in the first service games. Polmans was it to be denied though, breaking back immediately and then getting on a roll, winning five games in a row, breaking Greg another two times, to get to 5-1 up, saving two break-points along the way. Both players were struggling in the wind, Greg breaking Polmans' serve to get a break back to get to 2-5. But unperturbed Polmans proceeded to break Greg for the third time in the set, to seal the set win 5-2. Greg was doing himself no favours, serving at 40% in the set, with more double faults than aces.

Marc Polmans (pic by M.McGowan)

In the second set Greg set about righting his serve and his game, saying he was not aggressive enough in the first set trying to cope with the wind, and started hitting out more, really going for his shots. More free-flowing, his serve percentage improved and he held serve for the first time and broke Polmans early, to lead 3-1. His improvement continued, despite the wind, and he held serve more comfortably and then broke Polmans a second time to secure the set 6-3, and give himself a chance in the match at one set all.
In the third his improvement continued, but Polmans picked up as well, games going to 3-3, then 4-4 on serve. Greg then saw himself staring down three break points against him when, as he put it, two shanks returns by Polmans off good serves, followed by a bad smash in the wind turned his luck. He saved the first break point but another errant smash in the wind off a high recovery lob by Polmans, saw Greg drop serve at a crucial time, to allow Polmans to serve for the set at 5-3.
Greg fought back, getting to 30-30 but Polmans serve held firm, winning the game and the set 6-4, wrapping up a long two and a hour match 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
Greg was naturally disappointed. He had taken too long time to adapt to the conditions on his serve in the first set, had served poorly for that set and given the advantage to his younger opponent. He fought back well but the damage had been done and Polmans came through on the day, progressing further the next day to the semi-final, beating Andrew Whittington, another Kooyong member 6-2, 6-3. He was joined in the semis by Greg's mate Kiwi Rubin Statham, yet another Kooyong player. 
Its on to the tournament next week for Greg , to be held in the Victorian country side town of Mildura, miles away from anywhere again.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #12

Port Pirie TC courts

In the first round of the men's singles in the Futures tournament in Port Pirie Greg had better luck in the draw, avoiding a seed. His opponent was wild card recipient, up and coming young Aussie, 16 year old Alexei Popyrin, as yet to attain an ATP ranking, but currently ranked a handy 38 in the ITF Junior rankings, with still two years to play as a junior. 

Junior Alexei Popyrin

Greg said Popyrin was a tall youngster with a handy serve but lacking the consistency required at the Men's level. First match on the day, Greg was able to play a contained game, keeping the pressure on the youngster, relying on Popyrin's errors to force two breaks of serve in the first set, winning the set 6-3. An early break of serve in the second set allowed Greg to concentrate on holding serve, which he did to register a regulation straight sets win 6-3 6-3.
Greg was pleased with the way he played and the result, but said he could have returned better. He was not finished for the day though, as he was scheduled to back up and play his second round doubles match later in the afternoon.



Tasmanian Harry Bourchier

Playing with Stephen De Waard they were up against another young Aussie pairing of 20 year-old Harry Bouchier and 18 year-old Daniel Nolan, Bourchier ranked 620 and Nolan yet to attain an ATP ranking, hoping to do so by winning this match.
Greg said they dominated in the first set, having break opportunities on sudden death deuce on three of their opponents service games but failing to convert. Then on the only break-point they faced, they dropped their serve, and then the set 4-6 .

Teenager Daniel Nolan

They managed to get the crucial break in the second set, breaking again to win the set 6-3 and level the match at a set all, going to the lottery Match Tie-break decider. A couple of good returns and serves saw Bourchier and Nolan skip out to a lead, which Greg and De Waard were unable to recover and the match was lost 7-10 in the deciding tie-break.
Not the expected result for Greg and Stephen, in a match in which they had plenty of opportunity but not much luck, as essential ingredient in tight matches.

Greg said that his body felt ok after a busy day, so should be in good shape for his second round match tomorrow.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #11

Some solid training and hitting for the past two weeks saw Greg fit and healthy and raring to play tennis again. But first there was the 10 hour road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide to undertake, where Greg and Rubin stayed overnight with the kind parents of Dave Bidmeade.
Then it was another 3 or so hours north to Port Pirie, where the first Australian Futures tournament of the year was to be played. Not sure why Tennis Australia hosts these tournaments in out of the way places, where the players spend a fortune to get to and stay at, in order to play for a prize-money purse which hardly covers their expense, and in most case leaves them out of pocket.
Thankfully, after about15 years of $15,000 (total amount for all players, singles and doubles) Futures tournaments, the ITF have eventually increased the total amount to $25,000, which will help the lower level players in their endeavours to climb the tennis success ladder.

Partner Stephen De Waard

Greg had made the cut for the singles Main Draw, but was not scheduled to play on the first day. He was entered in the doubles, if a bit hesitantly, not sure if he should, worried about too much tennis whilst still in come-back mode. His partner was 24 year-old Queenslander Stephen De Waard, currently ranked 285 in the doubles, who boasts six Futures doubles titles in the last two years, all with partner Marc Polmans. Ironically Polmans is playing with Greg's mate and previous doubles partner Rubin Statham in this tournament.
Their first round opponemts were fellow Australians 27 year old Scott Puodziunas and 22 year old Calum Puttergill, who were seeded No.4, ranked above Greg and Stephen as Greg currently has no doubles ranking.
The match belied the seedings and it was Greg and Stephen who took a stranglehold in the first set, winning the set 6-3. The second set was a much closer affair, the score getting to 5-5, before Greg and Stephen went ahead, getting the decisive break to win the set 7-5, and the match in straight sets 6-3, 7-5. A good start to the tournament and for that doubles pairing.
Greg was happy with his performance in the match, which gave him some valuable court time before his singles match tomorrow
 

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #10

In the qualifying for the Launceston Challenger Greg had to back up on the same day to play his second round match, all un-seeded players having to play two matches on the day, whilst the top four seeds had byes through to the 2nd round, only having to play one match, giving the seeded player a slight advantage.
Again the draw Gods were not too kind to Greg for this second round match, having him matched up against the No.1 seed who just happened to be the guy he was sharing a room with, good mate 28 year-old Kiwi Rubin Statham, ranked 396.Greg got off to a great start, serving first he held serve then broke Statham early to go out to a 4-1 lead. Then the rain came and play was suspended.


NZ player Rubin Statham

At the resumption over an hour later it was Statham who came out firing, breaking Greg to level at 4-4. At 5-5 after a mammoth game Statham again broke Greg to serve for the first set. Greg gamely hit back, saving a set point then breaking Statham to take the set to the tie-break. In the tiebreaker they traded breaks to get to 6-5, Statham leading and serving for the set. Greg again saved set point to swop ends at 6-6, but was broken a point later, Statham snaring a closely contested set 7-6, 8-6 in the tiebreak.The second set was just as keenly contested, both players alternatively holding serve easily, then both saving multiple break- points mid set, before holding serve, eventually getting to the tie-break again. Statham got the early advantage, winning both of Greg's serves to sprint it a 5-0 lead, then held serve to win the tiebreaker 7-2, and the match 7-6, 7-6.
It was an unfortunate draw for Greg, where there was opportunity in all the other matches for him to qualify. The closeness in the match, where both players knew each other's game and strengths and weaknesses so well, was reflected in the statistics, with exactly the same number of points won by each player in the first set and only 5 points more won by Statham in the 2nd set ,being the difference in the tiebreaker score. Greg said the rain break was of significance as he had the momentum and then the court conditions changed after the rain, which evened the match.
On the positive side Greg's body felt good, if only a bit stiff, and his shoulder had come through serving two matches in one day.
And he could celebrate his birthday the next day without having to play a match!