USA Campaign 2010 - Update #12

On a hot and humid afternoon it was the wily veteran, 35 year-old Australian Jo Sirianni, who Greg faced in the 2nd round of the singles in Manta, Ecuador. Currently ranked 325, but with a high rank of 138, Sirianni had the experience and game to trouble Greg.

With Sirianni serving first it was Greg who was on fire at the start, breaking Sirianni twice to go to a 4-0 lead, before Sirianni got on the score-board at 4-1. Greg held serve and then broke Sirianni again to win the 1st set 6-1.
Greg started the 2nd set confidentally, holding serve and then breaking Sirianni again to lead 2-0. It was a desperate Sirianni who changed his style of play and then reaped the reward by getting a break-point on Greg's next sevice game, converting to get back into the match at 2-1. Games then went with serve to 5-5, Greg holding serve with eas,e despite not making a high percentage of 1st serves, and having some half-chances on Sirianni's serve but not being able to capitalise. Sirianni then stepped up his game and capitalised on Greg not making 1st serves and broke Greg, to go 6-5 up. Greg was not able to break-back and Sirianni won the 2nd set 7-5.
The 3rd set was closely contested, neither playing giving up ground and games went with serve to the tie-breaker at 6-6. With Greg serving first, Sirianni drew first blood winning the 1st point. He went out to a 4-1 lead but Greg was able to peg him back and level at 4-4. Sirianni then got another mini-break on Greg's serve to go 5-4 up. Two absolute rocket aces from Sirianni out of the blew stunned Greg and the match was over, Sirianni the winner 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).
Greg was bitterly disappointed. He said he had most of the luck in winning the 1st set so decisively, but was not able to put Jo away, the 3rd game of the 2nd set being a pivitol point of the match. Having a smaller frame Jo had coped with the heat and humidity a bit better than Greg, who said the heat had played a factor in the game. Nevertheless Greg said he had learned a lot from the game.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #11

Playing with Englishman James Ward in the doubles in Manta Ecuador, Greg and James forced the pace at 3-3 in the 1st set, breaking their opponents Ricardo Ghedin and Sebastian Rieschick to go 4-3 up. They held for a 5-3 lead, before serving out the set 6-4.
They started the 2nd set on fire, breaking twice to go 3-0 up, but then had their own serve broken to go to 3-1. But their opponents were unable to make any further in-roads, Greg and James holding to go to 4-2, then breaking Ghedin and Rieschick, to serve out the the set 6-3 and win the match 6-4, 6-3.
Greg said the tournament is well run, like an ATP tour event and the amenities and hotel are very good, with an excellent view of the coastline from hotel, situated above the beach at the top of a low cliff.

USA CAMPAIGN 2010 - Update #10

Manta, Ecuador, on the north west coast of South America, was the next stop on Greg's Tour, where he was the No. 4 seed in the $35k Manta Challenger. His first round opponent was wild card entrant, 22 year-old Carlton Fiorentino, from the USA, currntly unranked in the ATP singles (not sure how he got a wild card).
Greg started confidently and held serve easily. He returned Fiorentino's serve well and broke him to take a 3-2 lead. Greg held and then broke again, serving out the set 6-2.
With Greg again serving well in the 2nd set he held serve comfortably, bringing up a break-point serve opportunity on Fiorentino's serve but could not convert, games going with serve to 4-4. At 5-4 up Greg got Fiorentino to 15-40. He missed the fisrt match point opportunity but won the match on the second, winning the set 6-4 and the match 6-2, 6-4.
A comfortable start to the tournament for Greg. Due to rain his doubles match was delayed a day and he is only scheduled to play singles again on Wednesday, Manta time.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #9

Greg had a tough assignment for his 2nd round match in the Tallahassee Challenger. Given an hour and 40 minute break after his 1st round match, which was delayed a day by rain, he unforunately had to face up against the No. 4 seed, top 100 player 27 year old Robbie Ginepri from the USA, currently ranked 108, but with a high rank of 15, a challenge under normal circumstances.
Greg said he had to go for his shots to keep points short and conserve energy. Ginepri effectively pushed Greg around the court and broke Greg early. Greg played aggressively and managed to break back, then served to level the score at 4-4. Ginepri held for 5-4 and then brought up break-points on Greg's next serve, breaking Greg to win the 1st set 6-4.
The 2nd set mirrored the 1st set. Ginepri leading early by a break and Greg breaking him again to level the game score, but Ginepri again pressurised Greg at the death. After a mammoth point, which Ginepri eventually won when Greg netted the ball, Greg was spent. Ginepri winning the next point and the match 6-4, 6-4.
Greg says he was physically exhausted after the two matches in a day but was pleased with his come back result in the 1st match and his performance in the 2nd match against Ginepri. He had played well, just making some unforced errors when forcing the pace.
Greg is now heading for Manta, Ecuador for next week's tournament, with his ATP singles ranking at a high of 181, which will guarentee him entry into qualifying for both the French Open and Wimbledon.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #8

In Tallahasse, Florida, this week for the $50k Challenger which featured a very strong line-up, Greg was unseeded and had a fortunate draw for the 1st round, up against qualifier 23 year-old Brit Jamie Baker, currently ranked 282, high rank of 211.
After a days delay for rain, Greg said he did not start well, having difficulty in adjusting from playing at high altitude in Mexico, and missed a lot of 1st serves and returns, dropping his serve twice in losing the 1st set 6-2 to Baker.
He re-focussed in the 2nd set and worked his way back, making a lot more quality returns and breaking Baker twice to overturn the score-line and win the 2nd set 6-2. One set all.
In the 3rd set Greg said he was in control most of the set, having break point opportunities on two of Baker's service games, then converting the 3rd opportunity to take a decisive lead and serve out the match confidently, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Greg said it was a longish, tiring match as Baker made him play a lot of balls.
He played his 2nd round round later in the day.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #7

27 year old Mexican Santiago Gonzalez was Greg's semi-final opponent in the Challenger tournament in Leon. No doubt very experienced at altitude, Gonzalez is currently ranked 216 but boasts a high ranking of 155.
In another very close match it was Gonzalez who, serving first, managed to put the pressure on Greg and break his serve, winning the first set 6-4.
The second set went all the way to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg had a set point at 6-5, but on Gonzalez serve, and Gonzalez saved that point and brought up his own set point (and match point) at 7-6, breaking Greg to win the match 6-4, 7-6(6).
A disappointing end to a good tournament. Greg has shown though that he can match it with the players at this level.
Greg now travels to Tallahasee for another Challenger tournament next week.
Santiago Gonzalez went on to win the tournament.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #6

Quarterfinals of the singles in Leon saw No. 2 seed Greg up against the 5th seed, 26 year-old American Lester Cook, currently ranked 236, with a high rank of 207.
Greg got off to a flying start, breaking Cook early to go 3-1 up. A few loose points from Greg saw Cook break back and then hold serve to level at 3-3. He then broke Greg again at 4-4 to go 5-4 up. Greg said he did not play well in losing the 1st set 4-6.
Greg responded in the 2nd set, serving much better and holding serve easily. He had some half-chances on Cook's serve but could not convert, games going to 3-3. Greg then held serve in an easy game before breaking Cook to go 5-3 up. Greg then served out the set 6-3, to tie the match at 1 set all.
At that point Cook retired from the match telling Greg he had a groin injury and did not want to aggravate it any further.
So Greg through to the semi-finals of his 2nd Challenger this year.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #5

The second round of the doubles in the Leon Challenger was a quick affair. Up against the No. 2 seeded Australian pairing of Kaden Hensel and Adam Hubble, Greg and partner Ruben Statham could not match the intensity of the well-tuned long-standing doubles pair, losing 6-1, 6-2.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #4

A long hard day beckoned for Greg as he first faced an old adversary, fellow Australian 20 year-old Brydan Klein, in the singles and then teamed with Kiwi mate Ruben Statham in a doubles match against a local Mexican pairing. Klein's ranking has dropped to 442 from a high of 174 last year after a 4 month suspension late last year, but he will be confident against Greg, having a 3-1 head-to-head record in the Men's matches and a similar record in the Juniors.

And what a tussle it was. The 1st set was an arm wrestle, Greg going a break up but Klein breaking back to level and eventually  take the set to the tie-break, with Greg getting ahead and then just edging Klein 7-5, to win the set 7-6.
The 2nd set saw Greg serving big and holding easily, games going with serve to 4-3 Greg up when Greg broke Klein to go 5-3 up and serve for the match. At 40-30 he had match point but Klein saved and then saved another 3 match points before breaking Greg to get back to 4-5. Klein held serve and levelled at 5-5, games again going to the tie-break at 6-6.
With points see-sawing to 5-5, Klein had set point at 6-5 up. Two big serves from Greg snuffed out the set point chance and brought up match point again. With Klein serving Greg scrambled two returns back before hitting a lob over Klein's backhand which Klein bounced back and Greg was able to hit a cross court winner, winning the tie-break 8-6 and the match in two tie-break sets, 7-6(5), 7-6(6)

Greg was extremely pleased with the result, especially as he was on anti-biotics for a sinus infection, and that he was 4 and 0 for tie-breaks in two matches in this tournament.

The doubles match, against Juan-Manuel Elizondo and young Cesar Ramirez, was another close affair, with the 1st set being decided in another tie-break, 7-2 to Greg and Rubin and the 2nd set falling to them 6-4, for a straight sets win.

Greg has a break from the singles tomorrow but is scheduled to play their 2nd round doubles match.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #3

Mexico was the venue for Greg's next tournament, the "Abierto Internacional del Bicentenario" Challenger in Leon, at altitude on hard court.
Greg's opponent was qualifier 31 year-old Victor Romero, currently ranked 653, but with a wealth of experience playing at altitude, with depressurised balls which fly off the racket and have a different bounce.
It was a very close match with Greg edging Romero 7-5 in the 1st set tie-break and then again going to the tie-break in the 2nd set, this time winning it a bit more easily at 7-2, winning the match 7-6, 7-6.
A difficult 1st match for Greg who is suffering from infected sinuses and the heat. And it won't be any easier tomorrow with Greg scheduled for both singles and doubles.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #2

The second round of qualifying in the ATP tournament in Houston saw Greg up against compatriot, 21 year-old Nick Lindahl from NSW. Currently at a ranking high of 228 Lindahl is obviously in good form.
Greg did not serve as well as he would have liked in the 1st set and Lindahl, with a consistent game well suited to clay, took full advantage, breaking Greg's serve three times to win the first set 6-0.
Greg faired a lot better in the 2nd set but was not able to deny Lindahl, giving up another break of serve to lose the 2nd set 6-4 and the match 6-0, 6-4.
Greg will spend the next week training before heading to Leon in Mexico for a Challenger Tournament the following week.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #1

Happy Easter to all.

After three weeks of chilling out and training in Sydney, then Melbourne, Greg headed off to the USA, first stop Houston, to play in the qualifying of an ATP event, the US Clay Court Championships, at River Oaks Country Club (left). Seeded No. 8 in the qualifying Greg played against 33 year old German Frank Moser, currently ranked 953, but with a wealth of experience after a long, but not illustrious, career.

It was a tight first set going all the way to the tie-break, with Greg just edging Moser 7-4 in the tie-break to pouch the 1st set 7-6. After that it was one way traffic with Greg dominating the 2nd set to win the set 6-1 and the match to advance to the 2nd round of qualifying.

He plays again on Sunday, Monday morning Sydney time.