Australian Summer 2012 # 3

Playing with fellow Aussie, 26 year-old Marinko Matosevic in the 1st round of the doubles in the Brisbane International ATP 250 tournament Greg & MM faced the No.4 seeds Pakistan's Aisam-Al-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer from the Netherlands Antilles. Rojer is currently ranked 20 in the doubles whilst Qureshi is a top ten player, ranked 9. A tough ask for the Aussies.


Aisam-Al-Haq Qureshi

 Qureshi served first, followed by Greg, both holding serve. The Aussies then broke Rojer to go a break up at 2-1. Marinko held serve and then they broke Qureshi to love, to go a double break up. Greg held for 5-1 and then Marinko served out the set 6-2, for a surprising lead 1 set to love. Both Greg & Marinko had served very well, at over 75%, with Greg serving 5 aces.

Jean-Julien Rojer

In the 2nd set, the Aussies broke Qureshi in the first game and then saved three break points in the sudden-death deuce format to critically hold serve for a 2-0 lead. Rojer held for 1-2 and then broke Marinko to get back into the set at 2-2. But the Aussies hit right back to break Qureshi again at deuce to take the lead again at 3-2. Greg converted at deuce the next game to go to 4-2, then Rojer did the same to stay close at 4-3. Marinko then saved two break-points to get to 5-3, Qureshi held to force Greg to serve for the match. They forced Greg to deuce, saving one match point but a good 1st serve sealed the game and the match for the Aussie, winning the set 6-4 and the match 6-2, 6-4.

Marinko Matosevic

An excellent win for Greg and Marinko who served well throughout the encounter, to advance to the second round of the doubles.