Back to the USA 2010 - Update #7

The last acceptance into the draw, now ranked 258, in the singles of the Challenger tournament at Charlottesville, Virginia, Greg was up against experienced campaigner, 32 year-old American Kevin Kim, currently ranked 185, but a regular top 100 player with a high rank of 63. The match was played in the evening as the feature match on the main court as Kim was the title holder, beating Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Somdev Devvarman in the final last year.
Games went with serve in the 1st set until 3-3, then Kim managed to get a break-point opportunity on Greg's serve and converted to take the advantage and go to a 4-3, then 5-3 lead. Greg steadied the ship to get to 5-4 but could not deny Kim serving out the set 6-4. Greg said Kim was playing unbelievable tennis and he had only won 1 point on Kim's serve in the 1st set.
 Greg held his 1st service game in the second set and then surprisingly broke Kim in the next game to go to a 2-0 lead. He then held well to consolidate the break. Kim got back into the match but Greg was able to break him again to take control of the 2nd set and go on to level the match at 1 set all, winning the 2nd set 6-2.

The 3rd set saw Greg go 2-1 up on serve and then had Kim at 15-40, with a great opportunity to break and continue his domination. He said he completely duffed the shot and Kim went on to hold serve for 2-2, then reversed the momentum, taking the impetus away from Greg by breaking Greg's next service game and go to a 3-2, then 4-2 lead. Greg battled back and managed to break back then hold to level at 4-4. Greg went 5-4 up but Kim levelled again at 5-5. Greg served confidently for a 6-5 lead and then brought up match point on Kim's serve. He broke Kim to win the set 7-5 and disappoint the American crowd for a come-from-behind hard fought 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 win and progress to the second round.

Greg will have a day's break and will play his next match on Thursday.