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| Vancouver skyline |
The draw gods were not kind to Greg for the second round of the Vancouver Challenger. Although Greg was seeded No. 8 there was a dangerous floater in the draw in the form of experienced former world No.15, 28 year-old American Robbie Ginepri. Ginepri is on the come-back trail after recovery from a broken left-arm injury suffered while cycling a last year.
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| Robbie Ginepri at Atlanta |
Ginepri's ranking had dopped to 411 but he is in good form having played a few ATP events recently and was in the main draw in Vancouver courtesy of a Wild Card from the event organisers. An unfortunate real tough test for Greg.
It was Ginepri who got the better start to the match, breaking Greg's first serve, then serving to go to a 2-0 lead. Greg saved another two break-points to register on the score-board before forcing his own break-point on Ginepri's serve but was not able to convert, games going to 4-2. Ginepri was then able to break Greg again and served out the first set 6-2.
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| Ryan Bellamy, Greg and Canadian Pierre Duclos |
In the 2nd set Greg's service percentages picked up and he held serve early on, games going to 2-1 in Greg's favour. He then managed to get Ginepri to muktiple deuces in the next game but could not get that elusive break-point opportunity, Ginepri holding serve for 2-2. Then Ginepri upped the ante and had Greg facing break-points at 15-40. Greg saved those break-points to get to deuce, then saved another before he was unable to stop a relentless Ginepri, who broke to go 3-2, then 4-2 up.
A repeat of the first set then saw Ginepri break again and serve for the set at 5-2. Greg was unable to counter and Ginepri won a match he dominated 6-2, 6-2.
A disappointing loss for Greg, with a unfortunate draw preventing from going deeper into the tournament. Back to the practise courts for him and Ryan.
Ginepri was a finalist, losing to England's James Ward.
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