AO Series 2011 - Update #3

The 3rd and final round of qualifying for the Brisbane International presented Greg with a real challenge, up against a player he had never beaten before, fellow Australian 23 year-old Matt Ebden, currently ranked 196, with a high rank of 162 in August 2010. Ebden has a naggingly accurate game, with not a lot of pace and is extremely quick and fit, forcing his opponents to play a lot of balls and forcing them to make errors, rather than him hit winners. He has no great weapon but works the point well and also has the ability to pass a player approaching the net.
Greg started well holding his first three service games but at the same time unable to make any impression on the Ebden serve, not winning a single point on Ebden's serve in getting to 3-3. Ebden then used this pressure to get Greg to 15-40 and have to break point opportunities. Greg saved the first but was not able to prevent Ebden from converting the second to get the break of serve and take a 4-3 lead. Greg eventually managed to win a point on Ebden's serve but Ebden still consolidated for a 5-3 lead. Then when serving for the set at 5-4 Ebden tightened up and Greg was able to capitalise, win a few morepoints and bring up his own opportunity to break back at 30-40. But Ebden responded and closed out that opportunity, going on to win the game and the first set 6-4.
Both players held their opening service games before Ebden forced Greg to 0-40. Greg managed to save the three break-points and get back to deuce but Ebden forced another break point and converted and took a handy 2-1 lead. Greg was unable to make in-roads into Ebden's serve and Ebden held for a 3-1 lead. On Greg's next service game he again was forced to 0-40 and again saved the three break-points before history repeated itself and Ebden broke again for a 4-1, double break lead. Ebden served for 5-1 and then again broke a struggling Greg to close out the set 6-1, and win the match convincingly 6-3, 6-1 and advance to the main draw of the tournament at Greg's expense.
A disappointing end to a promising qualifying tournament for Greg. He was not happy with his performance although he had served well. Ebden had returned well and had won the majority of the longer rallies, and had held his service games well.