AO Series 2011 - Update #4

The Medibank International qualifying was the next stop for Greg, on his old stomping grounds at Homebush. It was a very high standard in the qualifying with the cut-off being the 153rd ranked player, the top seed ranked 58 and the last seed well below 100 at 79. Needing to win three matches to qualify, Greg was granted a wild card into the event and drew the No.2 ranked Australian player, and good mate Peter Luczak, currently ranked 136, in the 1st round. A tough first up match.

Playing on Centre Court with a 9am start, it was a half-asleep Greg, not used to being up so early, who commenced serving. He started well, holding serve and then forcing Luczak to break-point with some great returns. Luczak was able to save the point and then hold serve for 1-1. Luczak then forced Greg to 15-40 and two break-points. Greg saved the 1st with an ace and then served and volleyed on the 2nd serve to save the next point and get to deuce. Break-points and game points followed but Greg was unable to hold serve and Luczak took a 2-1 lead, serving for 3-1. Greg then slumped to 30-40 after leading 30-0, saved the break-point but again could not close out the game, with Luczak breaking again for a 4-1 lead. Luczak served for 5-1 and then again forced Greg to save break-points at 15-40, which he did this time get to 5-2, but he was unable to stop Luczak serving out the set 6-2. 

Peter Luczak

The 2nd set continued in the same vein, Greg going down 0-30, then serving two aces for 30-30 but then losing the serve to go 1-0 down. Luczak was serving well and held to love for a 2-0 lead. Greg starting making some 1st serves and steadied the ship at 1-2. He then got into the rhythm and returned well, bringing up 3 break-point opportunities at 0-40. Luczak responded and got back to deuce but Greg persisted and broke back, levelling at 2-2, then held serve for a 3-2 lead. Luczak held serve and then broke Greg again to go 4-3 up. Greg hit back against a tightening Luczak and levelled at 4-4. With new balls Greg served for a 5-4 lead and put the pressure on Luczak to hold serve. Greg got a nervous Luczak to 15-40 and was gifted the set when Luczak double-faulted, to win the set 6-4. One set all.

Greg started the 3rd set confidently but only served 1 first serve in the opening game, allowing Luczak to force him to deuce and then break Greg's serve to lead 1-0. Luczak held to love and then attacked Greg's serve, bringing up break-point on the back of only one 1st serve by Greg and converting to take a decisive 3-0 lead. A fired up Luczak now held and then broke Greg again, whipping through the last set for a 6-0 win, winning the match 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

Greg was bitterly disappointed. He had not served well and had found the Centre Court, which is not used a lot, to be a lot slower and bouncier than the outside courts, which affected his game. He also revealed later that he had not been able to practise serving that week as he had had shoulder trouble during his matches in Brisbane.

Now on to Melbourne for the Australian Open qualifying tournament, starting on Wednesday.

Peter Luczak unfortunately lost the next match to No. 5 seed Lukasz Kubot, ranked 70.