Australian Summer 2012 - #6

The second round of qualifying of the Sydney International was played on the same day as the first round, in the afternoon,  and the wind at Homebush was howling. Luckily Greg's match was a bit sheltered but the wind was still gusting around considerably, making playing conditions poor for both players. Greg's opponent was the No. 3 seed, 24 year-old American Ryan Sweeting, currently ranked 72, who won his first ATP singles title in Houston in 2011. Greg has played Sweeting once, losing a close three set match, so will be trying to go one better against a Top 100 player.

The match did not start well for Greg against a player who was teeing off on every ball, and hitting them in. A disputed call on a back-hand up the line (Sweeting later said it was in) brought up break-point against Greg in the first game and Sweeting converted, taking an immediate lead and forcing Greg to play catch-up. Sweeting held and then Greg served 4 aces in getting to 1-2. But Sweeting was playing too well and surprised Greg with his pace and not-normal attacking game. Greg fell another break down and Sweeting served out the 1st set 6-2.
Greg got more into the match in the 2nd set, serving and returning much better and getting Sweeting to hit more balls, getting to 2-2.

Ryan Sweeting

Sweeting got Greg to 30-40 and his luck held, converting the break-point opportunity with a net cord point which eventually skidded off the baseline. Unfazed Greg responded and forced Sweeting to 15-40, converting, to level at 3-3. A long service game by Greg followed and he upped his service to save two break-points and go 4-3 up. At 4-4 Greg again faced break-points at 0-40 and again good serving saw him save and hold serve, to go to 5-4. He was then unable to get Sweeting to duece and at 5-5 faced another break-point at 30-40. A disputed call, this time in Greg's favour, saw Greg save that point but Sweeting again brought up break-point and this time won the point, going 6-5 up. Greg saved one match point but was unable to deny Sweeting from winning the game, set and match 6-2, 7-5.
It had been a quick paced, evenly contested match in which Sweeting was the better player in the first set but Greg held his own in the 2nd set. Greg was fortunate to get two quality matches under his belt, including a confidence boosting win, prior to the Australian Open qualifying tournament.