Oz Grass Update #2

Second round of the Futures tournament in Mildura and Greg was up against 18 year-old New South Welshman Matthew Barton, currently un-ranked in the ATP singles rankings.

Greg was quickly into the match and broke Barton to go 2-0 up. A loss of concentration saw Greg serve 3 double faults in his next service game and let Barton back into the match, dropping his serve and allowing Barton to level at 2-2. Annoyed, Greg served up another two double faults in the next game and dropped serve again. Barton had his wind up and held serve for the rest of the set to pouch the 1st set 6-4.

Unexpectedly a set down, Greg knuckled down and once again got ahead in the second set at 2-1, only to again let Barton back to level the score at 3-3. They swopped break point opportunities but neither converted, Greg going within one point of losing the match. At 5-5 he served a good game to go 6-5 up and then stepped up his return game to pressure Barton and bring up break-point. He failed to convert that point but forced another set point, this time converting to win the set 7-5 and get back into the match at 1 set all.

The 2rd set saw Greg playing better and better, games initially going with serve to 2-2. Greg then broke Barton to go to 4-2 up. This time he served well to hold and go 5-2, before breaking Barton again to win the set 6-2 and the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.