Australian Summer 2012 #17

Finals day in the Challenger and Greg, having beaten the No. 1 seed in the semi was now up against the No.2 seed, 26 year-old Meburnian Marinko Matosevic, currently ranked 200 with a high ranking of 131 in 2011.

Greg serving

With Greg serving first, it was a nervous start for Greg and despite having a game point, Matosevic got Greg to deuce and then proceeded to break Greg, to take an early 1-0 lead. Matosevic continued on confidently, holding serve and then breaking Greg again to lead 3-0. Showing signs of stiffnes and discomfort from his previous two 3 set matches, Greg could not make any in-roads into Matosevic's serve and when Greg dropped serve for the 3rd straight service game to trail 5-0, the writing was on the wall for the 1st set. Marinko served out the sixth game to hand Greg a rare "bagel", 6-0 in the first set. Was Greg's injured knee tendon hampering him?

Marinko Matosevic

The second set started no better for Greg, who was put under pressure by Matosevic from the first point and, playing catch-up, was not able to hold serve, Matosevic breaking to lead 1-0, then 2-0. Greg finally steadied the ship and registered on the score-board, holding serve for the first time and winning his first game of the match. At a set and 1-2 down, could he now apply anough pressure on Matosevic and get back in the match?
The next game went to three deuces but still Marinko prevailed, holding serve eventually to go 3-1 up. Greg then failed to close out his next game and Matosevic was again able to get Greg to deuce and then break Greg for the 2nd time in this set, on the back of a low percentage 1st serve stat for Greg, and take a decisive 4-1 lead. Matosevic held for 5-1, then Greg held serve, forcing Matosevic to serve out the match, at 5-2. Greg was unable to prevent Matosevic from winning the last game, for a comprehensive 6-0, 6-2 win in the final. Well done Marinko.
Greg was never in the match, which Matosevic dominated from the first game. Greg tried to get back into the match but did not serve well at all, and was shut-out by Marinko, who served well enough to deny Greg any break-point opportunities. Not the best day at the office for Greg, who no doubt was struggling today after two mammoth three set matches on the previous days. But overall a great week for Greg, and for Tennis Austrlia coach Josh Eagle, who coaches both players.

Australian Summer 2012 #16

It was the weekend and Greg was in the semi-finals of the Challenger in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. His opponent was the No.1 seed from Taipei, Yen-Hsun Lu, currently ranked 62, with a high ranking of 33 in 2010. A formidable opponent who beat Greg last year in their only previous encounter.

Greg served first and serves dominated  with both players serving a high percentage first sets, neither giving up a break-point opportunity in the first 7 games, Greg leading 4-3. Greg was winning more of Lu's service points and the pressure told in the next game, with Greg getting Lu to 30-40 and breaking his serve to lead 5-3. Lu fought back getting Greg to 0-30 but Greg won the next four points to win the first set 6-3.

Yen-Hsun Lu at Caloundra



Both players again held serve well, taking the 2nd set score to 2-2, Lu serving first. Lu was then forced to save a break point to get to 3-2 and had Greg facing two break-points in the next game. Greg dug deep and saved that game, levelling at 3-3. Both players were showing the strain and some fatigue due to injuries they were carrying, going down 0-30 on their following service games but recovering to takes the set to 6-6 and the tie-break. Greg won Lu's opening serve but could not consolidate, going to 2-1 up. Both players then dropped a serve, changing ends with Greg 4-2 up. Lu then came-out firing, breaking back and holding serve to go, 5-4, then a mini-break up at 6-4. Greg saved the first set point bu could not stop Lu, on his serve, from winning the tie-break 7-5, and the second set 7-6. And so to the 3rd set.

A focused Greg

After four deuces in the first game of the second set Greg managed to hold serve. Lu then came out and served at a ridiculous 90 percent of firsts serves and, with Greg winning most of his serves, the set flew by until 4-3. Greg started to make in-roads into Lu's serve but neither player offered up a break-point opportunity in the set, taking the set to 6-6 and a third set tie-break, after an exhausting 2 hours and 46 minutes.
Serving first, Greg got the first mini-break to lead 2-1, then 3-1. Lu broke back for 3-2 but Greg matched him, breaking again to change ends at 4-2 up. At 4-3 up, unlike in the first set, Greg held both his next serves taking the score to 6-3, having 3 match points, but on Lu's serve. Greg broke Lu again, to record his first win over a top 100 ranked player, and win the tie-break 7-3, and a marathon three set match 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) to advance to the final.
A great match for Greg, who played well, hung in the match when it mattered, did not let the seond set loss get to him and matched Lu in the third set, displaying good character and mental toughness, as well as fitness, to eventually emerge the winner. It will be Greg's fourth ATP Challenger final and he will be hoping to get a win.

Australian Summer 2012 #15

The quarter-final round of the Caloundra Challenger brought together the same two players who faced each other in the 1st round of the previous tournament in Burnie, with Greg the loser. 22 year-old Australian John Millman, currently ranked 510, leads the head-to-head 4-2 in Futures and Challenger tournaments, and will start favourite for this match after his straight sets win over Greg last week.

Pensive Greg

Millman served first and both players held serve to 3-2. Greg then played a loose game to fall 0-40 behind, managing to save one breakpoint before Millman broke to lead 4-2 and then win the set 6-3. The match was going according to script.

The trend continued in the second set, Greg serving first, as Millman broke to go 2-1 up. Greg then decided to alter the script and broke back immediately to level at 2-2. Greg held serve to love and then proceeded to break Millman again to lead 4-2. Greg held his nerve serving at 5-3, when Millman saved three set points and then forced Greg to save a break-point, before Greg prevailed and won the set 6-3, to tie the match at 1 set all. An epic match was unfolding.

John Millman at Brisbane

The third set promised to be a thriller. Greg was the first to take the advantage, coming from 15-40 down on Millman's serve to break at the second opportunity, to lead 2-1. Greg held and then quickly had Millman facing another 3 break-points at 0-40. Greg broke again and led 4-1 with a double break. But "Road Runner" Millman was not done, breaking back one serve immediately, and hold serve to love, to keep the pressure on Greg at 4-3. Greg held for a 5-3 lead and quickly brought up 3 match points with Millman serving at 0-40. But Millman served 11 out of 12 first serves in the game to save those break points and then another, to hold serve and force Greg to serve for the match. Was Jonesie up to it?

Greg at Australian Open

Millman was smiling as Greg went 0-40 down and faced three break-points. Greg then emulated Millman, saving those break-points to get to deuce and then bring up his 5th match point. This time he converted, to win the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and advance to the semi-final, getting his revenge for last week's loss to Millman  and closing the head-to-head to 4-3.

Well done Greg, who displayed great fortitude and metal strength in the match, which waxed and waned continually in the favour of both players, especially at the end of that topsy-turvy third set.

Australian Summer 2012 #14

The second round of the Challenger tournament in Caloundra had Greg facing up against Australian tennis prodigy, 17 year-old South Australian Luke Saville, who boasts both the 2011 Junior Wimbledon and the Junior Australian 2012 singles title. Saville, who resembles Greg in both build and colouring, has not had much success on the Mens Futures circuit and his win in the 1st round here will help progress his rise up the ATP rankings from his current rank of 1168. Greg will be hoping to delay his rise any further.

Luke Saville at Wimbledon

Saville served first and held serve, and then had Greg, who was struggling with his serve, at 30-40. Greg managed to hold for 1-1, then immediately reversed fortunes by breaking Saville and, despite his service woes continuing, held serve get to 4-2 up. Greg then again broke Saville and served out the set 6-2. 

Luke at Caloundra



Greg again started the 2nd set serving at below 50%, whilst Saville was at a high 91% . Greg suddenly improved and started serving well above 80%, not allowing Saville a look-in on his serve. Midway through the set, at 3-all, Greg upped the intensity, breaking Saville to love and then holding serve to love, to lead 5-3. Greg again got Saville to 0-40 in the next game, and while Saville managed to save one match point, Greg prevailed, winning the set 6-3 and the match 6-2, 6-3.

Greg said his game had improved throughout the match. He only lost one point on his serve in the 2nd set and won over 60% of Saville's serve points, so dominated the set. He thought Saville still had to get to grips with the pace of the Men's game and needed to improve his court coverage and return of serve.

Greg has elected not to play doubles this week and has a welcome day's break from competition tomorrow, when he can get treatment for a knee tendon problem he has been nursing. He can also enjoy the benefits of the Sunshine Coast, sharing an apartment right on the beach in beautiful Caloundra, and spend some time on the beach and in the surf.

Australian Summer 2012 #13



Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane, was the setting for the second Challenger Tournament on the 2012 Australian Circuit.

In a tournament with a very lowly ranking tournament cut, Greg, currently ranked at 216, was seeded No.4. His first round opponent was 23 year-old Michael Look from Brisbane.

A USA College graduate, Look has been playing on the Men's Circuit for just over a year and has slowly increased his ranking to 323 this week. In their early teens Look was a thorn in the side for Greg, who was beaten by Look numerous times in National tournaments. 

With Greg serving first, both players held serve well in the first 5 games when Greg brought up a break point opportunity on Look's serve and converted to go 4-2 up. Greg was then able to hold serve and serve out the set 6-3.

Michael Look



Look and Greg again both held serve well in the 2nd set, getting to 3-3. Greg again took advantage of the only break-point of the set and broke to lead 4-3, then 5-3. He confidently served out the set for a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Greg did not give up a break point opportunity and took both of his only opportunites, in a close match. Greg did say that he felt that he was always in control and the match was his to win, or lose.

A modicum of revenge for Greg for those early teen year losses to Michael. 

Australian Summer 2012 #12

Greg and Sam Groth's opponents in the 2nd round of the doubles at the Burnie Challenger were fellow Australians, ex-USA Collegiate players John Peers and Greg's good mate JP Smith, who Greg played with at the Australian Open. Newly graduated from college both players were

JP Smith

now enjoying success on the ITF Futures circuit, improving their rankings every tournament, with a good knowledge of doubles play learned on the competitive college tennis circuit over the past four years.

John Peers

Playing in the evening Peers and Smith served first, with Greg and Sam saving three break points but failing to break on the one opportunity they had, in getting to 3-3. They then managed to get Peers to 15-40 and got the break to lead 4-3, then held serve for 5-3. Smith and Peers hit back, holding then breaking big Sam's serve to get to 5-all, then lead 6-5. Greg served and held, to take the set to the tie-break at 6-6. Peers and Smith got the early break to lead 4-1, then held their serve to get to a 6-3 lead and have 3 set points. Greg and Sam saved those points, changing ends even at 6-6. Peers held serve to have another set point and then they broke Greg and Sam, to snaffle the first set 7-6, 8-6 in the tie-break.

Big-serving Sam Groth

In the second set Greg and Sam were serving first but it was their opponents who got the first break of serve at 1-1, to lead lead 2-1, then 3-1. Sam and Greg could not get any points against their opponents serve until 3-4 down. They then had them at 0-40 and converted to level at 4-4, holding serve to lead 5-4. They then had set point on the sudden death deuce point and won that, to steal the second set 6-4 and take the match into the 3rd set match tie-break, first to 10 points.


Greg and Sam

Peers and Smith were not done and were the first to get a mini-break to go 3-0 up. They extended their lead with another mini-break and held serve to go to a 8-3 lead . Sam and Greg held serve and broke one serve back, to get to 5-9 down, but the match was Peers and Smith's, winning the tie-break 10-5. The "suits" had knocked off the big serving tennis jocks! A disappointing match for Greg and Sam, who had knocked off the No. 2 seeds in the previous round, but the sudden death format demands 100% focus and at times can be a lottery, both for winners and losers.
Now onto Caloundra for the next Challenger tournament.

Australian Summer 2012 #11

Greg's partner in the doubles at the Burnie Challenger was big serving 24 year-old Australian Sam Groth, who was on the come-back after a long lay-off for shoulder surgery last year. Sam had played some VFL footy while recuperating but had decided to continue with tennis and ha dplayed well in the tournments since early December with not much luck, missing out on a wild card in any event at the Australian Open. Their all Australian opponents in the first round had excellent credentials. Big serving giant Chris Guccione was a top 100 ranked doubles player and his partner Adam Feeney was becoming a doubles specialist with a ranking in the low 100's.

Adam Feeney good doubles player

Feeeny served first and held well. At 1-1 Guccione was forced to save 3 break-points, in the sudden death deuce format, but managed to hang on. Games progressed well until 5-4, where Sam saw his team facing 0-40, three set points. His big serve performed well and they squeaked out of that situation. Greg and Sam managed to get to the tie-break at 6-6 after saving a total of 9 break-points opportunities against them, but also failed to convert 3 opportunities on their opponents serve.
The tie-break progressed on serve until 4-3. Then they managed to get a mini-break to go 5-3, then 5-4 up. They served out the tie-break to win a hard-fought set 7-6.
The second set was again a tight affair. Sam again came from 15-40 down to save his serve, but most other games went quite uneventfully with serve. This set Greg and Sam were serving first and at 5-4 up managed to get their opponents to deuce, a game/break sudden death point, and a match point.

Chris Guccione

Unfortunately Guccione served a bomb and the score was 5-5. Sam held serve to go ahead 6-5 and the pressure was on their opponents. Greg and Sam brought up match point again and this time converted, winning the set 7-5 and a tight match 7-6(4), 7-5.
So a happier ending for Greg on his 23rd birthday as they beat higher ranked opponents and progressed to the next round. Now to find some dinner in the little town of Burnie late at night...

Australian Summer 2012 #10

It was his birthday and it was a cold, damp and windy day that greeted Greg for his first round match in the Burnie Challenger in northern Tasmania. Seeded 5th and confident after a good performance at the Australian Open, Greg first round opponent was fellow Aussie and long-time friend and peer John Millman from Brisbane. Currently ranked 555, Millman had a lot of time off last year with shoulder surgery, then contemplating his tennis future and then training like a demon, and has a high ranking exactly the same as Greg of 179. With a very consistent game with no great weapon Millman would fancy his chances against Greg in the windy conditions.
Greg served first and played confidently in getting to 3-3. He then inexplicably served a double fault to start the next game, followed up by another two loose points to find himself staring at two break-points at 15-40. He saved the first but was unable to prevent Millman breaking and going 4-3 up. Millman held serve to consolidate the break and lead 5-3. Greg managed to save another break-point in getting to 5-4 and critically force Millman to serve for the set. Greg was again unable to make inroads into the Millman serve and Millman won the first set 6-4.
With Greg serving first in the 2nd set both players held serve to get to 1-1. Millman was coping better with the gusty, windy conditions and Greg could not get his power game working, mistiming badly on some points and committing the majority of the unforced errors in the match. Millman broke Greg and took an early advantage at 2-1. Despite Millman serving at below 50% first serves in the second set Greg was unble to capitalise, continually making errors on the Millman second serve and thus applying no pressure on him.

Brisbane's John Millman

Millman held serve and then broke Greg again to lead 4-1, then 5-1. Greg again was forced to fight hard to hold serve but managed to do so, and forced Millman to serve for the match at 5-2. Greg applied some pressure to Millman this game and got him to deuce but it was too late and Millman ws able to hold serve and win the set 6-2 and complete a comprehensive win over a much higher ranked and seeded Greg.
Not the best performance unfortunately from Greg who appeared to let the windy conditions get to him and played a game not conducive to winning the match on the day. Not a happy ending for Greg on his birthday, so hopefully the doubles match later in the day will be better.