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.