Asia-America tour #3

The first round of theThailand Open, an ATP250 tour event, had Greg matched up against 24 year-old German Matthias Bachinger, currently ranked 98. With a high ranking of 85, recently recorded in August, Bachinger is in good form. A tough ask, but could this be Greg's first ATP win?

Centre Court - Indoors

With Greg serving first both players started confidently, games going quickly to 3-3. In the seventh game though, Greg was forced to save a brak-point, then two more before eventually winning the game to go 4-3 up. With new balls, both players held serve to get to 5-5. At the business end of the set Bachinger applied more pressure and had Greg at 0-30, then had a break-point at 30-40, converting to go a break up at 6-5. Bachinger confidently served out the set to love, winning the set 7-5.
Greg was immediately under pressure in the second set and Bachinger broke Greg and then held serve, having now won 5 games in a row to go a set and 2-0 up. Greg was forced to save another two break-points before stopping Bachinger's run and get to 1-2. Bachinger was serving at over 85% first serves and again hit four 1st serves to go 3-1 up, games going to 2-4. 

Matthias Bachinger



In the seventh game of this set Greg had a marathon game, showing his fighting qualities by saving seven break points and eventually holding serve after 10 deuces, to close out gap to 3-4. Bachinger then stepped up and served four 1st serves to get to 3-5.

Greg held for 4-5 and then fought to break Bachinger's serve, getting to 30-30 but could not deny Bachinger serving out the game, set and match, winning a close fought battle 7-5, 6-4.

Greg had fought hard but could do very little against a player who served at an incredible 81%, winning 90% of those serves, and also returning well. Greg served at a creditable 63% but Bachinger was too good on the day, and Greg will have to wait for another day to win his first ATP tour level match.

Asia-America tour #2

The final round of qualifying at the Thailand had Greg facing a tough assignment, the No.1 seeded qualifier, Rainer Schuettler. In the twilight of his career spanning 16 years to date, the 35 year-old German Schuettler, is still highly ranked at 114, with a top ten ranking high of 5.
Serving first on Centre Court Greg held comfortably, and Schuettler did like-wise, for 1-1. Greg served 3 aces to hold for 2-1, then returned well to force Schuettler to 30-40, converting the break-point opportunity to lead 3-1. Games went with serve to 4-2, when Greg, serving the seventh game with old balls was forced to 15-40. He saved the two break-points and then held to go 5-2 up. Schuettler held comfortably for 5-3, forcing Greg to serve for the set, which he did, serving an ace at 40-30 to win the set 6-3. 1-0 to Greg.

German Rainer Schuettler

In the second set Schuettler held easily, Greg less so in getting to 1-1. Greg then forced Schuettler to save a break-pont before converting the next break-point to go a break up at 2-1. He held a bit nervously to 30, then again pressurised Schuettler, to get him to 0-40, and then converted at the first opportunity to take a solid two break advantage at 4-1. Both players held serve for 5-2, with Greg to serve for the match.
It was a slightly tight Greg who could not serve a first serve, serving his second serve well enough though to bring up match point. Schuettler saved that to get Greg to deuce but Greg again produced another matrch point on a second serve. This time he managed to serve a first serve, winning the match 6-3, 6-2 to advance to his thirrd ATP 250 tournament main draw this year.
A great reward for the hard work he has put in this year. Greg served well, except for the last game which brought his stats down, serving 10 aces and only 1 double fault. He attacked Schuettler's serve, winning all of Schuettler's second serves in the 2nd set.

        Now for the Main Draw.

Asia-America tour #1

After almost three weeks back in Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, part R&R and plenty of hard training, it was off to Bangkok for Greg for the qualifying of an ATP 250 event, the Thailand Open. Having to win three rounds to qualify for the main draw, Greg was seeded No.6 and had a bye throught the 1st round. His 2nd round opponent was a local Thai player Aviruth Phaphui, unranked in the ATP singles, a match Greg would be expected to win.

With Greg serving first and holding serve, Phaphui was forced to save four break points before holding serve for 1-1. After that it was a matter of Greg concentrating and holding serve, breaking Phaphui twice, and serving out the set, to win the first set 6-1.
The second set saw Phaphui hold serve and get to 1-1 again before Greg broke serve and then comfortably holding serve to go 5-3 up. Greg broke Phaphui again to win the second set 6-3 and the match 6-1, 6-4, advancing to the final round of qualifying.
A much tougher assignment awaits Greg there, as he takes on the No.1 seed, German Rainer Scheuttler.