Oz Swing Feb2011 - Update #5

Greg in action at Caloundra

Greg's second round opponent at the Caloundra Challenger tournament was 29 year-old Thai player Danai Udomchoke, who was making a return to high level tennis after a long lay-off from competition due to injury. Currently ranked 361 due to his inactivity, Danai boasts a high rank of 77 and a win over Lleyton Hewitt early in 2009 in the Davis Cup.
On another windy day Greg got off to a slow start, losing his first serve to give Udomchoke a early lead. Greg worked his way back into the match to get the break back and level the score at 3-3, only to have Udomchoke get another breakpoint opportunity and once again break Greg's serve and hold serve to win the first set 6-4.
In the second set Udomchoke was able to get another early break and take the iniative, In a mirror of the 1st set Greg fought back and broke the Thai to level scores. He then had break-point opportunities against Udomchoke in subsequent games but could not capitalise. Then at 4-5 down Udomchoke took advantage of the pressure he had created and broke Greg to win the 2nd set 6-4 and the match 6-4, 6-4.
Greg was again disappointed. He said he had been rather "flat" in the match and could not get his serve working to his best and had paid the price. He is returning to Sydney before finalising his schedule for the coming weeks and months.

Oz Swing Feb2011 - Update #4

It was a windy and rainy day that dawned for players in the Challenger tournament at Caloundra. Greg's first round match was against the No.6 seed, experienced 31 year-old Czech Jan Hernych, currently ranked 168, with a high rank of 59 in mid 2009. Hernych had recently qualified for the Australian Open and reached the 3rd round, beating two top 50 ranked players before losing to Robin Soderling. So a tough test for Greg.

Caloundra Tennis Centre

In almost gale force wind conditions it was the experienced Hernych who adapted quickest and he broke Greg early to take a 3-1 lead, increasing that to a double break at 4-1 up. Greg dug deep and managed to break back against Hernych, who was serrving into the wind, to get to 2-4 down. But Hernych applied pressure and broke Greg again, then served out the set 6-2, to go a set up.

The second set started in the same manner, Greg stuggling with his serve in the wind and going an early break down. He quickly broke back and this time, with the wind dying down slightly and him serving better, managed to hold serve and get to 5-4 up. Greg was able to apply pressure on Hernych's serve and get a break-point opportunity, converting to take the 2nd set 6-4 and level the match.
After a thoughtful toilet break, it was a fired up Greg that returned to court for the third set. So was Hernych, who broke immediately and take a 1-0 lead, holding serve for 2-0. Greg steadied and held serve, getting to 1-3 down. Then he faced the prospect of going a double break down, serving at 15-40. Two solid points later he had managed to level at deuce and then closed out the game with some good serving. Greg began to play better and match Hernych's increased level, games going with serve to 4-5, with Hernych serving for the match. Greg upped the ante and forced Hernych to break point, then levelling the set at 5-5. He the served a love game to lead 6-5. It was a nervous Hernych who served to save the match, Greg getting him to deuce and then bringing up match point but was denied. Then, with advantage point, Hernych served two double faults, handing Greg match point again. This time Greg was able to convert, winning a remarkable match 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
A trying match in difficult conditions but Greg stuck to the task, applied the necessary pressure and capitalised on his perseverence for a come-from-behind win.
Greg will have a day off tomorrow as he is only scheduled to play again on Thursday.

Oz Swing Feb2011 - Update #3

On the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane at Caloundra Greg was teaming up with his good Queensland mate Joel Lindner for the doubles. They were 1st match up for the tournament against Oz/Kiwi pairing of Marinko Matosevic and Rubin Statham, also good mates of Greg.
It was a close first set with games going to 5 all, but it was Matosevic & Statham who got the critical end of set break of serve, winningd the 1st set 7-5.
Greg & Joel fought back and soon got a break of serve, continuing on to take the 2nd set 6-3 and level at 1 set all. The match tie-break was to decide the affair, with Greg & Joel trailing mid tie-break and conceding the tie-break 10-7, Matosevic & Staham running out 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 winners.
Greg was to play his singles the next day, with Joel unfortunately eliminated in qualifying.

Oz Swing Feb2011 - Update #2

Nima Roshan

Continuing in windy Burnie, Greg was partnering fellow Aussie Nima Roshan in the doubles. Greg had managed to "sign-in" for the doubles whilst travelling to Burnie and ended up as a Wild Card recipient with Roshan. Their first round opponent were Greg's Aussie peers, Bryden Klein from WA and John Millman from Queensland.
Greg said they did not serve well in the first set. dropping serve mid set and losing the first set 6-3.
Their woes continued early in the second set going a break down early in the set to trail 2-3. Greg siad they started serving remarkedly better and were unlucky not to break back before Klein/Millman served for the match at 5-4. Greg and Nima were then able to break back, in the sudden-death formay, and level at 5-5, then go 6-5 up. Klein/Millman held easily to take the set to the tie-break.
In the tie-break Greg & Nima got an early break up to lead 4-1. In the next point they were unable to put a series of smashes away in the swirling wind to get to 4-2. Another missed opportunity saw their opponents get back on serve at 4-3, then get to 6-5 up on serve. Greg & Nima saved the match point and then got to 7-7, when another missed opportunity saw their opponents get another match point, this time converting to end the match with a 6-3, 7-6(6) win.
Not the best trip to Burnie for Greg, where he has previously been a finalist in the singles on two occassions, lack of time and preparation being the factor in his loss this trip. Greg will now travel to Caloundra in Queensland for the next tournament.

Oz Swing Feb2011 - Update #1

After a tiring two days of travel Greg arrived in Burnie, Tasmania from Honolulu on the morning of his first round singles match. Delayed due to a scheduling debacle of he doubles in Honolulu it was not ideal preparation for a match against the No.8 seed 22 year-old Japanese Tatsuma Ito, currently at his highest ATP ranking of 175, so in good form.
Late in the afternoon on a drizzly, windy day, serving first Greg dropped the first game to love, not an ideal start for his confidence. He bounced right back though, breaking Ito immediately to level at 1-1. The it rained and played was suspended.
On the resumption an hour later Greg struggled to get his serve going and at 3-3 was broken again  to trail 3-4. He again immediately brought up break-point on Ito's next serve but was unable to convert. Greg held for 4-5 and then again brought up break-point but Ito again recovered to deny Greg, then won the game and the set 6-4.
The third set continued in the same manner. It started badly for Greg, Ito forcing Greg to deuce and then breaking Greg to go 1-0 up. Greg got Ito to deuce but could not stop Ito going 2-0 up. Then Ito broke Greg again to lead a double break up at 3-0. The next ame was crucial and Greg responded, again getting Ito to save break point and, then after multiple deuces, hold serve for an unassailable 4-0 lead. At that point the fight was gone from Greg and Ito broke again and served out the set, to win the match 6-4, 6-0.
Greg was annoyed but philisophical about the loss, realising he was not totally prepared for the match against a quality opponent.