Oz Summer Tour continued Update #4

Quarter-finals of the Men's singles in the Challenger tounament in Burnie, Tasmania and the weather was windy and miserable. Greg faced peer and good friend 20 year-old Australain John Millman, currently at his ranking high of 300. John beat Greg in two sets at the same stage in the tournament last year, but Greg just shaded John over 3 sets in their last encounter in the Oz Open Wild-card play-off in December. An interesting contest to unfold.

Greg said he did not play well in the 1st set, letting the cold, windy conditions get to him, and he went a break down early in the set. He ended up just hanging in but losing the set 6-4.

In the second set Greg knuckled down and came out firing, breaking Millman early to go out to a 3-0 lead, then 4-1. Both players struggled serving into the wind and at 4-2 up Greg dropped his serve serving into the wind. Millman was back in the match and levelled at 4-4. Games then went with serve to the tie-break. A set down Greg went for broke in the tie-break and some attacking play was rewarded with Greg dominating the tie-break and winning it 7-2, and the set 7-6, to hang in there and tie the match at 1 set all.

With Millman serving 1st, Greg started the 3rd set a lot more positive although he said he still was not playing his best. Millman held and so did Greg, after a long deuce game and saving a break-point. Games went with serve to 3-3, then 4-3, Millman up. Serving against the wind Greg struggled, playing a few loose shots and faced 0-40. A chance for Millman to go 5-3 up and serve with the wind for the match. Greg said, back against the wall, he somehow saved the points and held for 4-4. Millman served and held for a 5-4 lead. Greg then faced break-point again at 30-40, this time match point. Missed his1st serve and after a good 2nd serve got into a rally. He went for broke again, hitting 3 huge shots to get Millman defending and then ghosting in to hit a drop-volley to save the day and then get to 5-5.

They both held serve to go to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg got a mini-break early to go 3-2 up. Millman hit back but Greg held for 4-3, Millman to serve. Greg broke for 5-3, but Millman held for 5-4. Match on Greg's serve, two points later he had won. 7-4 to Greg in the tie-break and a miraculous win 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4) result.