Back in the Saddle #12 - On Grass

The final round of qualifying at Nottingham saw Greg facing up against 25 year-old Adrien Bossel of Switzerland, currently ranked 404, with a high rank of 345, Bossel had two good wins on his way to the 3rd round, so not to be taken lightly, but a good opportunity for Greg to progress to the main draw.
The rain delaying play once again, the match was forced indoors once again, onto the slick indoor surface, which would play more into the tall big-serving Swiss player's favour, due to his indoor experience having grown up on that surface in the cold Swiss climate.

The 1st set saw Bossel use his height and big serve to take the ascendancy and close Greg out by giving him  no break-pint opportunities. Despite Greg serving well Bossel was able to have three break point opportunities, and managed to break Greg once and ended up winning the 2nd set 6-4.
The 2nd set saw the tables reversed, with Greg serving the better. They swopped service break before Greg broke Bossel a second time to lead 5-4 and serve out the set 6-4 and level the match at one set all.

Adrien Bossel

The third set was keenly contested. Both players gave up a break of serve. Greg forced Bossel to face 7 break-points in the set, but was only able to convert the one opportunity, games going to 5-5. Bossel then broke Greg and won the set 7-5 and the match 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, taking his place in the main draw.

Greg said he had played well but had very little luck in a match of missed opportunities. He had served very well, especially in the 3rd set at 63% and had fired down 18 aces to Bossel's 7 aces but still came out on the wrong side of the score-sheet.

Very disappointing for Greg but reflective of the competitive depth of Men's tennis. You beat a top 100 ranked player one day and then get beaten the next day by a player who has never progressed beyond 300 in the rankings, on an alien surface. Greg also commented on the fact that he had been unable to train on the indoor surface, and not much outdoors either, due to the poor weather.
And now let's hope for a more fruitful second half of 2012.