AO Series 2011 - Update #7

The final round of qualifying for the Australian Open saw Greg shape up against the No.1 seed 23 yeard Slovenian Blaz Kavcic, currently ranked 98, near his high rank of 96.
On a sunny warm day it was Greg who served first and held confidently to love, then forced a nervous Kavcic to15-40 in his first service game. Two break points early in the match but Kavcic responded and held for 1-1. In the next game a net cord bounced over Greg's racquet at the net to deny Greg a game point and go to deuce. Kavcic road his luck and forced a break point.

Greg saved but Kavcic repeated the dose, this time breaking Greg to go 2-1, then 3-1 up, then go to 4-2 up. A long game then saw Greg save two break points to stay close at 4-3. Greg saved another break point to get to 4-5, then managed to get two break-point opportunities when Kavcic was serving for the set. Greg was unable to break and Kavcic won the set 6-4.
The second set saw Greg hold serve then again bring up a break point on Kavcic serve but again he was unable to convert and the score was 1-1, then 2-1 and 2-2. Greg then faced two break points, saving the first with an ace but he was unable to prevent Kavcic going 3-2 up. Greg responded immediately getting Kavcic to 30-40 but Kavcic held for 4-2. On the back of two aces Greg held for 3-4, but Kavcic also held to lead 5-3. Greg held to love for 4-5 and forced Kavcic to serve out the match, which he did, serving to love to win the set 6-4, advancing to the Main Draw with a 6-4, 6-4 win, in a longish match lasting almost two hours.

Greg was bitterly disappointed. He felt he had not performed to his best, not being able to convert any of the six break-point opportunities he created. His feet still hurt from the match the day before and he was exhausted from the previous days effort. None the less, he had a good week in winning two matches, his best performance thus far in a Grand Slam qualifying tournament.
He has received a wild card into the Men's Doubles with partner Sam Groth.