Greg's 2nd round match at Queen's in the qualifying was an imposing task, up against the very experienced 27 year-old Russian Dimitri Tursonov, who currently was having had a bad run of results in ATP tour matches and is currently ranked a relative low 143, having a high rank of 20 in 2006. Seeded No.4 Tursonov had the benefit of having a bye in the 1st round and thus was fresh for this match against Greg who had already played his 1st round match in the late morning.
Serving 1st Tursonov held serve and then immediately brought up a break point on Greg's serve. Greg saved and held serve and then surpised Tursonov by breaking his serve for a 2-1 lead. More break point opportunities were created in the ensuing games, but both players were unable to capitalise on those opportunities, games going with serve to 5-4, Greg up. Serving for the set Greg was up against a determined Tursonov, who got Greg to deuce and then brought up break point. Greg held but Tursonov again had break-point. Greg saved two further break points before Tursonov managed to break back for 5-5.Tursonov held for a 6-5 lead but Greg was able to respond and served well to go to 6-6 games all. Greg got the 1st point, mini-break to him, but Tursonov broke back. Points see-sawed to 4-3 Tursonov's way. Tursonov then got another break and played his advantage to win the tie-break 7-4 and the 1st set 7-6.
Greg started the 2nd set confidently, holding serve and then again breaking Tursonov early in the set to take the advantage at 3-1 up. Despite a number of break point opportunities Greg was able to hold Tursonov at bay and go 5-2 up. Tursonov held serve and Greg then served for the set at 5-3 up. Tursonov again got Greg to deuce but, unlike the 1st set, this time was denied, with Greg winning the game and the set 6-3.
One set all.
Tursonov was on fire at the start of the 3rd set, holding serve to love and then breaking Greg's serve to go 2-0 up, before consolidating the break with another love service game. Greg was able to respond and stayed with Tursonov but was not able to make any in-roads to Tursonov's serve, who amazingly served at 100% for the his 1st four service games, going to 5-2 up. Greg had a good service game to force Tursonov to serve for the match at 5-3. Tursonov got to 30-15, then Greg won the next 2 points bringing up a break-back opportunity, but he was not able to convert, Tursonov serving another good 1st serve then bringing up match point. Greg saved that point but could not deny Tursonov who won the set 6-3 and a very close match 7-5(4), 3-6, 6-3.Greg will be disappointed with the result but delighted with his effort, pushing a top 20 player all the way, even having opportunities to win the match. He should take some confidence from the day's tennis
No comments:
Post a Comment