USA Tour 2011 #21

Flushing Meadows New York was the setting for the first round of the Qualifying tournament for the US Open and Greg faced the No.19 seed, who had an interesting story to tell. USA's 25 year-old Wayne Odesnik (born in South Africa) had served a one year suspension for bringing illegal human-growth drugs into Australia before the Australian Open a couple of years. After being fined, serving the suspension and losing all his points many believe Odesnik got off lightly for his offence. Since his ban Odesnik, to his credit, has battled his way back via the Futures and Challengers circuit without any wild cards to be ranked 142, having attained a high ranking of 77 in 2009. A tough match for Greg against an in-form player.

Greg served first and held and then immediately had a break point against Odesnik, who saved that point and then another before holding for 1-1. Games went with serve to 5-4 with Greg serving well. Then Greg again got Odesnik to 30-40 but was denied again. After multiple deuces Odesnik saved another break point to level the match at 5-5. Games went with serve to the tie-break at 6-6.

Greg jumped to a 2-0 lead in the tie-break but then inexplicably lost the next 6 point, and faced 4 set points. He saved the first, then won the nex 3 points to change ends at 6-6. He lost his next service point though and this time Odesnik served out the tie-break 8-6, pouching the first set 7-6, a set in which Greg never saved a break-point on his serve and in which dominated every statistic, except the score-line.

With Odesnik serving first it was a determined Greg who broke Odesnik to 15, then held serve and broke Odesnik again to lead 3-0, then held serve for a 4-0 lead. Odesnik steadied the ship for 4-1 but Greg was able to comfortably hold his own serve and served out the set 6-2, levelling the match at 1-set-all.

Wayne Odesnik

Odesnik again served first in the critical 3rd set and this time held his serve to love. Greg followed suit with his own love game, to go 1-1, before Odesnik got to 40-0 on the 3rd game. Greg pegged him back though to get to deuce and then on the 3rd deuce brought up a 2nd break-point in the game to convert and go 2-1 up. Greg served for a 3-1 lead (with the old balls) before breaking Odesnik again t lead 4-1 with a double break. He served out a love game and then served for the match at 5-2. He displayed few nerves as he won the game to 15 and the set 6-2, winning a great tussle 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Greg will be especially pleased with winning the match, given Odesnik's history. He served well a 62% and wom a high percentage (88%) of those serves, not allowing Odesnik to even get to deuce on any of his service games. A sterling affort. Not sure if Greg plays tomorrow or has rest day. One match down, two still to win.