Playing in the first round of the doubles with fellow Aussie, giant 23 year-old Sam Groth, Greg and Sam were up against compatriots 31 year-old Peter Luczak and 23 year-old Matt Ebden, both pairings receiving a wild card entry to compete in the event. Both Peter and Matt have singles and doubles ranking higher than Greg and Sam, so it would be a very tough match for them.
In the first set big 6 foot 5inch Sam's serve got firing but Greg could hardly buy a first serve and, after failing to take three break point opportunities on Luczak's serve early in the set, it was Greg who got broken, for Luczak and Ebden to take the advantage and get to 5-3 up. Greg and Sam held and then broke Ebden to level at 5-5. In the next game Greg was forced to save two break points, pulling out a 209kph serve to do so, then getting to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg and Sam went to an early lead in the tie-break but were pegged back. They took the lead again on the back of a monster 233kph serve by Sam and won the tie-break 7-4, pouching the 1st set.
The second set saw Ebden/Luczak break Greg's serve early and take the lead. They held their service games with ease, not allowing Greg & Sam back into the set, and won the second set 6-3, levelling the match at one set all.
The 3rd set saw a big improvement in Greg's serve. Sam started serving and won the first game with two aces, then Greg held to love, games going with serve to 4-3. They then managed to force a break-point opportunity on Ebden's serve and converted to take a 5-3 lead. Serving for the match Sam started nervously, double faulting and then losing a good point to go 0-30 down. A 226kph bomb got them back into the game. Luczak brought up a break point but Sam held then brought up match points, converting on their 2nd chance to win the set 6-3 and a close match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Greg and Sam were delighted with the win, Greg having equalled last year's Oz Open doubles result. Both were looking forward to their 2nd round match.
In the first set big 6 foot 5inch Sam's serve got firing but Greg could hardly buy a first serve and, after failing to take three break point opportunities on Luczak's serve early in the set, it was Greg who got broken, for Luczak and Ebden to take the advantage and get to 5-3 up. Greg and Sam held and then broke Ebden to level at 5-5. In the next game Greg was forced to save two break points, pulling out a 209kph serve to do so, then getting to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg and Sam went to an early lead in the tie-break but were pegged back. They took the lead again on the back of a monster 233kph serve by Sam and won the tie-break 7-4, pouching the 1st set.
The second set saw Ebden/Luczak break Greg's serve early and take the lead. They held their service games with ease, not allowing Greg & Sam back into the set, and won the second set 6-3, levelling the match at one set all.
The 3rd set saw a big improvement in Greg's serve. Sam started serving and won the first game with two aces, then Greg held to love, games going with serve to 4-3. They then managed to force a break-point opportunity on Ebden's serve and converted to take a 5-3 lead. Serving for the match Sam started nervously, double faulting and then losing a good point to go 0-30 down. A 226kph bomb got them back into the game. Luczak brought up a break point but Sam held then brought up match points, converting on their 2nd chance to win the set 6-3 and a close match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Greg and Sam were delighted with the win, Greg having equalled last year's Oz Open doubles result. Both were looking forward to their 2nd round match.
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