Back in the Saddle #10 - On Grass

Still in Nottingham, the tournament and Greg's training has been severely constrained by the rainy English weather. Greg was hoping to make the cut for qualifying again, for the second Challenger tournament in Nottingham.
Greg did make the cut and was up against 22 year-old Brit Joshua Milton, currently ranked 420, with a high rank of 306. Greg had only met Milton once previously, in a Futures event in 2009, when Greg, feeling the pressure of being No.1 seed in that event, lost to Milton. Let's hope history does not repeat itself.

Joshua Milton

In a rain delayed late match, both players swopped breaks of serve before Greg, serving the better, broke Milton again and skipped away, this time holding serve to consolidate the break, He then broke Milton a third time to win the 1st set 6-2.
The second set was a closer affair. With Greg serving first there were no breaks of serve until 3-3. Greg then held serve for 4-3, then broke Milton to take a decisive 5-3 lead. Greg then served out the set, winning the second set 6-3 and advancing to the second round with a solid 6-2, 6-3 win.