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.