USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #11

Quarter-finals of the Challenger in the singles at Granby and Greg was up against the No.1 seed, 24 year-old Tobias Kamke of Germany, at the peak of his form at a high ranking of 100.

Greg said he played well in the first set but Kamke played even better getting the decisive break of serve and going on to win the 1st set 6-3.

Greg's level of play dropped in the 2nd, and Kamke took full advantage, breaking Greg twice to run away with the set 6-2 and win the match 6-3, 6-2.

Greg was disappointed with his performance against the No.1 seed but had little time to dwell on the match as he rushed off to get a flight to Washington, to make the sign in time and try and get into qualifying for the Legge Mason ATP tour event, to be played over the weekend.

USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #10

The second round of the Challenger tournament in Granby, Canada saw Greg up against 29 year-old Slovakian Ivo Klec. A seasoned campaigner Klec is currently ranked 303, with a high rank of 184, and will be a tough challenge for Greg.
It was Greg who got the better start in the 1st set and, with a early break of serve, was able to keep the pressure on Klec, saving a break-point along the way before breaking Klec again to pocket the 1st set 6-2.
The 2nd set saw Greg lose his first service game, then breaking back immediately to level at 1-all. Klec was unfazed and broke Greg again to take the advantage at 2-1 up. Klec served well for the remainder of the set, keeping Greg at bay to bring up set point and win the set 6-4, levelling the match at 1 set all.
The decisive 3rd set started with Greg and Klec very even, games going with serve to 3-2, with Greg up. Klec then dropped in a couple of unforced errors and Greg capitalised, getting a break up to lead 4-2. Greg then had to weather the storm, with multiple deuces before holding serve to go 5-2 up. He continued to play well and took control of the match, getting match points on Klec's serve and breaking Klec again to win the 3rd set 6-2 and a tough match 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
A good result against an older experienced player, opponents against whom Greg was losing close matches to in the past.
Greg is also pleased that he has been joined by AIS coach James Trotman who will work with Greg for the next few weeks.

USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #9

In the singles of the Granby Challenger, Greg faced the No. 8 seed, local 22 year-old Peter Polansky, currently ranked 184. With the match scheduled on the Centre Court the Canadian crowd would no doubt be supporting Peter, who was a semi-finalist last year at this event.

In a very tight first set there was not much between the players, games going with serve to 3-2. Greg then had Polansky 15-40 down but Polansky saved the break points, getting to 4-4 up, then putting the pressure on Greg, to have two break-point opportunities on Greg's serve. An ace by Greg saved 1 break-point then a massive rally ensued in the next break-point, Polansky driving Greg wide. Greg ripped a cross-court winner to save the break and go 5-4 up. Games then progressed on serve to the tie-break at 6-6. The tie-break was just as close, Greg going an early mini-break up at 3-1 but Polansky levelled at 3-3. Greg then got another mini-break up to go to 4-3, then 5-3. Polansky got back to 5-4, then Greg got up 6-4 again. Polansky saved 1 break point but Greg served the set out with an ace, winning the breaker 7-5 and pouching the 1st set 7-6.

The 2nd set was again very close. This time though it was Greg who created more of the half-chances, but not being able to go on with it and break-serve, games going to 2-2. At 2-3 it was Peter who had two break-points on Greg's serve but Greg responded with 3 good first serves and an ace to close out that chance. At 4-4 Greg applied the pressure and at 0-40 Polansky faced 3 break-points. He saved two of them to get to 30-40 but a second serve saw Greg seize the opportunity and hit a return winner to break serve and go 5-4 up. Greg stepped up to serve for the match, and with the aid of 2 aces went 40-0 up - 3 match points. Two 2nd serves later saw Greg tightening up, to go to 40-30, but an unreturnable 1st serve quelled the nerves and gave Greg the set 6-4 and the match 7-6(5), 6-4.
A good confidence boosting win for Greg.

USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #8

Greg arrived in Grandby, Canada, just east of Montreal, treating a very sore right arm, which was giving him trouble when serving, so we were surprised that he was playing in the doubles at Granby, which is a $50,000+H Challenger tournament.

Partnered by fellow Aussie Bryden Klein they did not get the best of the draw, up against the No.1 seeds, the Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana in the 1st round. Greg had played and beaten the twins with Adam Feeney just two weeks ago in Aptos, so would be confident for the match.

Greg said they played well but Bryden's serving let them down. In a very close match in which both teams had the same amount of opportunities, the Thai team coverted 3 of their break chances while Greg and Bryden could only get 1 out of the 5 opportunities, Bryden dropping his serve 3 times in a 4-6, 3-6 loss to the No.1 seeds.
At least it will give Greg's arm some time to repair.

USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #7

With the final of the doubles in Aptos being played on Sunday(normally Saturday) it was a late night dash for Greg, and the other finalists, from southern California to northern Kentucky for the next tournament. After eventually arriving the next afternoon it was an underprepared and sleep deprived Greg who had to play on Tuesday.
Seeded No. 8 in the Challenger tournament in Lexington, it was not the best of draws for Greg, up against talented 23 year-old USA player Alex Kuznetsov, currently ranked 232 but with a high rank of 158, who Greg lost to in straight sets earlier this year in their only other encounter.
It was Kuznetsov who took the initiative and broke Greg early before going on to win the 1st set 6-2.
Games went with serve to 2-2 in the 2nd set. Kuznetsov then reeled off 4 games in a row to stun Greg and win the set 6-2 and bundle Greg out if the tournament with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 win.
Whilst disappointed Greg said he had actually played well but just lacked the edge to win the big points, lack of preparation contributing to the loss. Greg also said he has a very sore right arm, just above the elbow, which was affecting his serve.
Unable to enter the doubles, due to being in the finals Aptos, Greg will be able to give the sore arm some rest and now travels to Canada for the next tournament, starting on Monday.

USA Summer Campaign - Update #6

Finals day in the Aptos Challenger saw Greg and Adam Feeney up against formidable "Twin Towers" doubles combination of Aussies Chris Guccione and Carsten Ball (pictured). An all Aussies final! Gooch and Ball won the ATP event on grass at Newport last week and have advanced their doubles ranking down into the sixties, so will be tough to topple.

When watching the match on the computer live-feed , it is always difficult to follow the score. Greg and Adam were outclassed in the 1st set going down to the taller Aussies 6-1.

The second set appeared a lot more competitive but Greg and Adam lost the majority of the "sudden-death" deuces, both on their serve and on the opportunities created on their opponents serve. They fell behind a break of serve early in the 2nd set and could not convert deuce break/game points to get back level. At 3-5 down the game score again got to deuce but a deft angle volley was past the reach of Feeney, and Gooch and Ball had won the match 6-1, 6-3.

A good week with some court time for Greg, which will give him confidence. Also a good first up pairing at Challenger level for Greg and Adam.
Next stop Lexington, Kentuck for another Challenger event this week.

USA Summer Campaign - Update #5

Doubles semi final in the Aptos Challenger saw Greg and Aussie mate, 25 year-old Adam Feeney from Sydney (see picture) up against the No. 1 seeds, Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana.

With Greg serving well and Adam, who has a high rank of 100 in the doubles, although currently ranked 841 after a period of inactivity, picking off the volleys, it was the Aussies who dominated the first set, getting ahead by two breaks of serve and winning the 1st set 6-2.

The second set waqs much of the same, but the Thais rallied back before Greg and Adam sealed the match with the crucial break of serve, winning the set 6-3, and the match 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the Aussies first Challenger final as a team.

They will play the final on Sunday as their opponents are not yet decided, because the players were involved in singles matches on Friday and were unable to complete their semi-finals doubles match, so will have to play their semis on Saturday.

USA Summer Campaign - Update #4

The 2nd round in the doubles of the Aptos Challenger saw Greg and Adam Feeney up against the No. 4 seeds, Canadian Pierre-Ludovic Duclos and Artem Sitak of Russia.

In a close first set Adam and Greg got the decisive break and won the set 6-4.

The second set was even tighter with both pairings swopping breaks of serve to eventually get to 5-5. Greg and Adam were then able to get a break of serve and win the set 7-5, advancing to the semis with a 6-4, 7-5 win.

In the semis they will have to be on top of their game against the No.1 seeded pairing, 28 year-old twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana from Thailand, who are ranked 87 and 86 in the doubles ranking, with a high rank of 39. The Thais are in good form having recently reached the 3rd round of the doubles at Wimbledon.

USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - Update #3

The first round of doubles saw unseeded Greg and his Aussie partner Adam Feeney up against the South African pairing of Raven Klaasen and Izak van der Merwe, also unseeded.

Greg and Adam won the first set 6-3, with just one break of serve separating the pairings.

The second set also proved to be a close affair, with the Aussies just shading the SA lads 6-4, for a comfortable win 6-3, 6-4.

Tomorrow in the second round the Aussies will have to up the tempo when the face up against the 4th seeded pairing, 24 year-olds Canadian Pierre-Ludovic Duclos and Russian Artem Sitak, a more formidable doubles team.

USA Summer Campaign - Update #2

Greg spent last week in San Jose, southern California training and getting fit after his holiday, preparing for the next Challenger tournament in Aptos.

In the 1st round of the singles he faced an old adversary, soon to be 21, American Donald Young, currently ranked 111, and seeded No.3 for this tournament. Greg lost to DY in the semis of Junior Wimbledon and has also played and lost to him twice on the Men's Tour, so it was a tough first match that faced Greg.

I don't have much match detail but Greg said he played very well in the 1st set, staying with DY and then breaking to go ahead. Maintaining the intensity he won the 1st set 6-3.

DY came steaming back in the 2nd set and broke Greg early to take the initiative. He broke Greg again to go further ahead and evened the match at 1-set all, winning the set 6-1.

Greg said he lacked match fitness, this being his 2nd match in a month, and the 3rd set also got away from him. His 1st serve percentage dropped dramatically and DY was able to dictate, taking advantage of a lot of Greg's second serves, DY winning the third set 6-2 and the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Greg was buoyed that he won his first set off DY but annoyed that he could not maintain the intensity.

Greg is playing in the doubles with his old Aussie mate Adam Feeney, so will enjoy that.

USA Summer Campaign - Update 1

After a well-earned two week break, on holiday in London and Rhodes, Greece, it was a tennis rusty Greg who faced the daunting task of qualifying for an APT 250 event, the Campbells Hall of Fame Championships at Newport, Rhode Island in the USA.

Surpisingly seeded No.6, Greg had a favourable draw, with his 1st round against 27 year-old South African Raven Klaasen, currently ranked 436. Unfortunately for Greg his lack of tennis time the previous weeks told against him and he went down in a close match, with one break of serve difference in each set, 5-7, 3-6.