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.
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.
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