AO Wild Card Play-off #4

Quarter-final round of the Australian Open Wild card Play-off, and Greg was up against gun junior player Bernard Tomic, who at 17 is making a big name for himself in the tennis world. Winner of two Junior ITF Grand Slams (Australian and US) Tomic won a round at the senior Australian Open in January this year. Greg has played Tomic in the juniors about three years ago and ran out an easy winner then, so will be hoping to repeat the dose, even though Tomic is at least 18 inches taller and a lot better player, with heaps more experience than back then. Greg will be confident of winning if he plays well and his serve is firing.


In mid afternoon, after two ladies matches, on a good weather day for Melbourne, it was Tomic who served 1st but Greg who got the jump-start by breaking Tomic in the 1st game to lead 1-0, helped by a double fault from Tomic. Tomic however was straight back at Greg and also broke immediately to get back to 1-1. Nerves dispatched with, both players held serve to 2-2, whereupon Tomic held and then was able to break Greg who was not serving a high enough percentage of 1st serves, to go 4-2 up. In the next service game Greg got Tomic to 15-40, but was not able to convert. A long deuce game ensued but Greg missed the opportunities and Tomic held for 5-3. Greg held for 5-4 but was not able to deny Tomic serving out the set 6-3.

Greg served confidently the 1st game of the 2nd set but Tomic responded in kind. Tomic then had 3 break-point opportunities in the next game but Greg was able to hold-on for a 2-1 lead. Serving at 100% 1st serves for the set thus far, Tomic levelled at 2-2. Games went with serve to 3-3, then Tomic took advantage of Greg’s lower 1st serve percentage and brought up break-points at 15-40. Greg saved to go to deuce but could not deny Tomic who eventually broke Greg to lead 4-3. Greg responded and brought up break-point and broke right back to level at 4-4.

This time though Tomic was not to be denied, and broke Greg’s serve again to lead 5-4. Greg was not able to make in-roads on Tomic, who was still serving well, and it was Tomic who served out the match, winning 6-3, 6-4 to proceed to the semi-finals.