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.