USA SUMMER CAMPAIGN - UPDATE #16

After another days delay due to constant rain, Greg and Adam Feeney (pictured) finally got on court late on Friday evening for their second round doubles match in the Binghamton Challenger. Their opponents were the "Twin Towers" combination of Australians Carsten Ball and Chris Guccione, the No. 2 seeds for this event. Slamming down serves from 6'7" and 6'6" respectively, Ball and Gooch are ranked 66 and 85 in the ATP doubles rankings. Adam and Greg lost to them recently in straight sets, so had their work cut-out.

Guccione had played a singles match and a 1st round doubles earlier in the day so would be quite tired for this match, somewhat reducing the odds.

Greg and Adam got off to a good start and broke Ball and Guccione's 1st service game going to a 2-0 lead. Gooch and Ball got back to 2-1 then had Greg and Adam at 15-40, but some good serving saw them manage to hold and maintain their advantage at 3-1. Games went to on serve to 4-2, then 4-3, but Gooch & Ball again forced Greg and Adam to 15-40, this time converting to level at 4-4, then go 5-4 up. Greg and Adam held and got to the tie-break at 6-6. Ball and Gooch got n early mini-break to lead but Greg and Adam fought back to level at 4-4. Serves then dominated and they swopped set point opportunities at 6-5, then 6-7, then 8-7 when Greg and Adam broke to win the tie-break 9-7 and the 1st set 7-6.

The 2nd set was just as close an affair. Early in the set, at 2-1 up Greg and Adam had three break points  on the Gooch/Ball serve but could could not take the opportunity. They again had another opportunity at 4-3 up but Gooch/Ball managed to hold. Then Gooch/Ball managed to get a break opportunity and converted to lead 5-4, serving out the set 6-4.

The match tie-break 3rd set saw Gooch/Ball go an early mini-break up but Greg & Adam fought back and got the tie-break back on serve at 5-6 down. However they again dropped a serve to trail 6-7. Gooch/Ball served to go 6-9 ahead, then broke Greg & Adam again to win the match tie-break 3rd set 10-6 and a very close match 6-7, 6-4, 10-6.

A very improved performance by Greg and Adam but a match of missed opportunities, where Greg and Adam had double the amount of break-point opportunities but could not convert those opportunities into service breaks. In the end they could not topple the Twin Towers.