African Expedition - Update #6

Greg and coach Joshua Eagle

The semi-final of the singles in Soweto was played about 2 hours after the QF match, with Greg up against one of the local South African players, 30 year-old Rik de Voest, ranked 184 with a high ranking of 110.
Greg served first and was first to take the initiative, breaking De Voest and then serving out the first set 6-3. With rain clouds building, calls were not going Greg's way but he hung in, saving a break-point and serving some aces to get to 3-3 in the 2nd set. De Voest was serving with some accuracy and won the next game to go 4-3 up. De Voest was started to pick Greg's serve and forced Greg to 15-40. With Greg facing 2 break points the heavens intervened and the rain poured down, suspending further play.

Wet Soweto Centre Court

Well it rained for a day and a half and no further play was possible on Friday or Saturday, the tournament being extended by a day in order to reach a conclusion. Poor Greg was forced to delay his holiday plans and re-schedule his flight to the Chobe River in Botswana to Monday, missing a day of the four day trip.
At midday on Sunday the sun reluctantly shone through the clouds and play continued, with Greg serving at 15-40. Some good serves later and Greg had levelled the score at 4-4. He was unable to pressure De Voest in giving up a break point opportunity though and games went to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg said he played tentatively in the breaker, with a great deal riding on the result and the more experienced De Voest seized the opportunity and gained the mini-break, winning the tie-break 7-4 and the set 7-6, levelling the match at 1 set all.
With the crowd and impetus behind him it was De Voest who gained the upper-hand in the 3rd set, breaking a struggling Greg for the first time in the tournament and then holding serve to lead 5-2. He again pressurised Greg with some good returns, breaking serve for the second time to win the set 6-2 and the match 3-6, 7-6, 6-2.
A disappointing finish for Greg, who had played beyond expectation  but who could have achieved more in this tournament.