Summer in the States 2012 #1

Closely beaten and bundled out of qualifying at Eastbourne, by No.2 seed Aussie Marinko Matosevic (who subsequently qualifed and reached the quarter-finals, beating the No.1 seed Richard Gasquet in the second round) and unable to make the qualifying draw for Wimbledon due to his drop in ranking, Greg headed for Tampa in Florida to spend the better part of the northern summer in the USA. Greg's aim is to get some much needed match practise, match fitness and (hopefully) the winning experience by playing in the qualifying for a lower level Futures Tournament. 

Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort

The tournament, a $10k Futures event, is being hosted at the Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort and Greg is senjoying the luxury accommodation at excellent rates for a change.

In his quest for more match play he was thwarted at the first step by the draw which presented him with a bye in the first round, so he did not play on Friday. In the second round he will play the winner of two as yet unranked players, so should be able to ease into the tournament, unless he encounters a future "Nadal" just starting out on his career.

Greg's opponent in the second round is 16 year-old Alexandru Gozun from the USA, who had an easy win in the first round and recently won three rounds of qualifying and pushed experienced American Ryler Deheart to three sets, on the green clay of Florida. So Greg will need to be at his best and concentrate throughout the match. 

Innisbrook course view

And so it proved to be. Greg said that his opponent "was a huge 16 year-old kid who hit the shit out of the ball and got hot..."

With Gozun serving first, it was Greg who went up an early break. However a sloppy service game from Greg saw Gozun break back, with the scores level midway through the set at 3-3. Gozun started hitting the ball well and Greg was unable to break again, games going to 5-5. Playing well, Gozun was putting pressure on Greg who was tightening up and he broke Greg again, snatching the 1st set 7-5.

Greg started thinking "I can't lose my 1st match in qualifying of a $10k Futures, as the No.1 seed" which made him play even tighter. Greg again broke Gozun early in the set to lead by a break but Gozun broke straight back, and then held serve easily. Greg was feeling that, everything, including all the luck, was going against him. He was feeling fatigued and what felt like cramps coming on, on an incredibly hot and humid day. But Gozun could not maintain his high level of play and Greg started grinding on the clay, winning more of the rallies and playing his way back into the set. He steadied the ship and then broke Gozun to go 5-3 up and then served out the set 6-3, to give himself a chance in the match, levelling the score at one set all.

A regal foyer

 More confident now, Greg broke early in the 3rd set and started putting more run of points together, getting a second decisive break. Playing quite well now, having adjusted to the pace, the clay and the hot conditions, Greg broke Gozun again to take a stanglehold ont he 3rd set and ran away with the 3rd set 6-2 and a nervous, challenging match 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

It was a very relieved Greg who said "Thank God I got through the match".

In the third round of qualifying tomorrow, if the evening rain goes away overnight, Greg faces another 18 year-old American, Charles DePaolo, also unranked on the ATP Tour. Let's hope he is not another "mini Nadal" and also that Greg pulls up ok after signs of cramp in the hot humid conditions.