A Trip to Ecuador #2

 The first round of the singles in the Challenger tournament in Manta, Ecuador had Greg matched up against 24 year-old Argentinian Andres Molteni, currently ranked 308, with a high ranking similar to Greg of 181.

Centre Court at Manta

Greg served first and, after holding serve with games going to 2-1, Greg quickly had Molteni defending his serve, getting the Argentinian to 0-40 and converted the break to lead 3-1, then 4-1. 

View of Greg's Hotel on the beach

At 5-3 Greg served for the set and confidently brought up two set points. But Molteni was not finished and combined with some nervous tennis by Greg, won the next three points to have Greg facing break-point. Greg dug deep and managed to save the point, heading off the challenge with some good first serves and winning the game, and the first set 6-3. 

Argentinian Andres Molteni

 With Molteni serving first, games went with serve to 2-2. Greg then forced Molteni to 15-40. Molteni saved the first break-point oppotunity but Greg broke on the next point going 3-2 up, then serving confidently for a 4-2 lead. Molteni tried to break down Greg's serve but Greg held firm on the back of some good first serves and served for the match at 5-4. He served out the game to love, winning the match 6-3, 6-4 with a confident display.
Greg had served well, 61% first serves for the 1st set and 69% for the 2nd set, with a high conversion rate in the high 80 percent, with 8 aces and only one double fault. A good match by Greg.

A Trip to Ecuador #1

Manta, Ecuador was where Greg headed from Kentucky, but due to the airport at Atlanta being shut down for just an hour due to inclement weather, Greg missed his preferred flight to Manta. He was delayed almost a day, before flying to Quito, overnighting in the capital and then getting a connecting flight to Manta, which itself was delayed, so Greg had a marathon 36 hour trip to Ecuador.
But he arrived safely and was quick to get the cobwebs out of his head for a doubles match, again partnered by American Greg Ouelette. Ouelette was the top seed in the single qulaifying and had managed to qualify, so was used to the conditions in Manta.

The beautiful beaches and cliffs of Manta

Against an American pairing of 34 year-old Kevin Kim, who boasts a singles ranking high of 69, and 22 year old college player Sam Barnett, Greg and Greg got off to a good start, holding serve and then immediately going a break up in the first set.

Veteran Kevin Kim

Serving well they managed to break their opponents again in the first set, getting to 5-1 up and then serving out the set comfortably 6-1.

The second set was a lot closer, games going with serve to 2-2. The Greg's then got the American pair to 15-40 in the 5th game and converted the first break-point opportunity to lead 3-2 and the 4-2. They managed to hold serve without facing a break-point, in the sudden death format, winning the set 6-4 and the match 6-1, 6-4 to proceed to the second round.

The Gregs both play their first round singles tomorrow.

Summer in the States 2012 #17

Another younger player confronted Greg in the second round of singles in Lexington, Kentucky, being the No.6 seed 21 year-old Argentinian Agustin Velotti. A talented player in the Juniors, who won the French Open Junior title, Vellotti is making his way up the senior rankings, just off his recent high ranking of 205, ranked at 214. On a hot and humid day with temperatures in the mid 30s, Greg had another difficult match on his hands.
Serving first Greg held serve and then, on the back of a string of second serves by Velotti, immediately had Velotti defending four separate break points in his first service game. Each time Velotti produced a first serve to save the break-point opportunity, denying Greg and eventually holding serve to level at 1-1. Greg maintained the intensity and brought up another break-point opportunity at 3-2, converting to take a 4-2 lead, then holding serve after a long service game to lead 5-2. Velotti held for 5-3, them applied the pressure on Greg who was serving for the set, forcing Greg to defend break-points at 15-40 and converting to break-back to 5-4. Greg was unfazed and took the game to Velotti, breaking him again to win the first set 6-4.

Centre Court at Lexington

Greg was immediately on the attack in the second set, eager to close out the match in the hot, humid conditions, holding serve and then forcing Velotti to again defend three break-points, this time breaking Velotti to go to a 2-0 lead. But Velotti had other ideas and hit back immediately to level the scores at 2-2. Games then went with serve, both players battling on their service games, to 5-4 Greg leading. With Velotti serving to stay in the set and the match, Greg forced him to 30-40 and match point. Greg went for broke and went for the winner but hit a clean shot just a foot long. Velotti saved and the opportunity was gone, Velotti holding serve for 5-5. Then Greg was forced to save a break-point, which he did, holding for 6-5, games going to the tie-break at 6-6.

Argentinian Austin Velotti

In the tie-break, it was Velotti who got the first mini-break to lead 3-2, then hold serve to go to 5-2 up. Greg held serve to get back to 4-5, then Velotti brought up set point at 6-4. Greg hit back and broke to get to 5-6, still set point to Velotti but on Greg's serve. Velotti was not to be denied, playing the better tie-break to win that point and the tie-break 7-5, to win the set 7-6 and level the match at 1 set all.
Velotti was also now serving first in the 3rd set and held serve and then broke a struggling Greg to lead 2-0, then 3-0. Greg said his energy levels were low after the efforts of the first two sets and he felt extremely fatigued in the extreme hot conditions. But he managed to rally and, with new balls, held serve for 1-3. But he was unable to make any inroads into Velotti's serve, games going with serve to 5-2. Velotti then forced Greg to 15-40, bringing up two match points, converting to win the set 6-2 and a closely contested match 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.
Greg was devastated with the loss, seeing that he had the better of the play for two sets, having 11 break point opportunities against Velotti, including a match point, against the 3 break points which he had to defend, but just did not have the luck on the day. Velotti was able to raise his game on those big points and took the few opportunities that came his way. Greg knew he had to win in straight sets due to the hot conditions but was not able to on the day.

Summer in the States 2012 #16

In his opening singles match in Lexington, Greg was up against against 21 year-old American Chase Buchanan, who had promised much as a junior but had yet to deliver in the seniors. An Ohio State college player, Buchanan is currently at his ranking high of 585, so in good form lately.
With Buchanan serving first, both players held serve, then Greg found himself facing breakpoint after missing his first serves, losing the point to fall a break behind at 1-2. He rallied and broke back immediately to level at 2-2 and take the initiative away from Buchanan. Games then went with serve, with both players struggling in the hot and very humid conditions, to the tie-break at 6 games all. In the tie-break, Greg upped the ante and took the game to Buchanan, getting away to a 5-1, then 6-2 lead. Buchanan fought back and reduced the deficit to 4-6, then put the pressure back on Greg, forcing him to serve for the tie-break at 6-5. A timely ace, in a set of poor serving, sealed the tie-break 7-5, pouching the 1st set 7-6.

Chase Buchanan

With the 1st set under his belt, a more relaxed Greg, now serving first in this set, improved his serving stats and attacked Buchanan's serve, bringing up 9 break point opportunities, whilst facing none on his own serve for the set. Greg was able to take advantage of some of those opportunities, breaking twice to take a double break lead and then bringing up breal-point on Buchanan again, this time a match point, going on to break and win the set 6-1, for an emphatic 7-6(5), 6-1 win.
Greg said he knew that in the hot humid conditions winning the first set would be crucial and that whoever lost that set would battle to win the match, and so it proved to be.

Summer in the States 2012 #15

Now in Lexington, Kentucky for another Challenger tournament, Greg played his doubles match only, on the  first day of the tournement, again teamed with good mate 26 year-old American Greg Ouelette, they were up against the inexperienced American pairing of 22 year-old Phillip Arndt and young 18 year-old Christian Harrison, brother of top 50 player Ryan Harrison.

Downtown Lexington

The "Gregs" got off to a good start, breaking their opponents in the first service game, and then holding serve, to go to a 3-1 lead. With the "Gregs" not serving well, their opponents capitalised and broke back to level at 3-3. Greg upped the ante and broke back immediately and then held serve for a 5-3 lead. They kept the pressure on their younger opponents and got them to 30-40 and converted the break point/set point to win the 1st set 6-3.

The second set produced the same good start for the Gregs and they jumped out to a 2-0 lead again, this time not letting their opponents get back, going to a 5-2 lead, on the back of slightly better serving . They then broke their opponents again to win the set 6-2 and the match 6-3, 6-2, to progress to the second round.

A good match for the Gregs to start their Lexington campaign but they will need to improve their serves, especially Jonesie who was out-served in the match by his team-mate Ouellette.
Greg plays his singles match on Tuesday, USA time.

Summer in the States 2012 #14

On a different note, seen on the Binghamton web-site:
Jones 2-time Fast Serve Winner 

For the second year in a row, Greg Jones (AUS) won the fast serve contest (including a $250 first place prize) with a serve of 123 mph.

Greg's fastest serve technique

Greg's view on the competition:

Like that one Fellas >

"Hahaha. I forgot to tell you guys. Lol. Yeah I won and I also aced a kid from the crowd for an extra $50 and got $50 for appearance fee. Good hey? $350 for an hours work after I lost (my singles match). It helped cheer me up a little!

 The gun was so slow, last year I won it with a 134mph! 

Greg egging on the opposition


The serve had to be in, we had 5 serves each.  I went 108mph fault, 113mph fault, 114mph fault, 109mph fault and was thinking it was all over and what the hell was happening. Then hit 124mph on last serve. Hahaha, McClune had already hit 123. Then Venus hit 124 also, so we had a two serve shoot out.

Is that your best? Bad luck Buddy

He hit fault, and then 117mph and in, which was ridiculous, because if he had of missed (that fast serve) I could have just served under hand and won by getting the serve in! So I hit like 111 fault, again thinking it was all over, then plucked a 123mph ripper in serve out of nowhere! Hahahaha."





Summer in the States 2012 #13

The second round of the doubles at Binghamton saw the Gregs (Jones and Ouellette) face up against a tough USA combination, the No. 3 seeds Tennys Sandgren and Rhyne Williams, both of whom were very good juniors and are now carving their way up the singles rankings.

Rhyne Williams

The Americans were on fire in the first set, serving at 70% and returning well, forcing the Gregs to play a lot of shots and face a lot of break-points. The Gregs saved four of those points and then managed to bring up their only break point of the set against Sandgren and Williams and converted that point, but it was to break back to level the score, after losing their own serve on the fifth break point against them. It was the Americans who then converted again to win the set 6-4.

Tennys Sandgren

The second set was again a tense affair, both pairings facing or having 3 break points opportunities. It was again the Americans who served the better and were able to save the break points against them, at the same time converting their opportunities to go to a 5-2 lead. Another break of serve saw them win the set 6-2 and the match 6-4, 6-2.

Greg said it was a match they had hoped to win but the USA pair had served and returned better on the day and deserved the win. 

Summer in the States 2012 #12

In the second round of the singles in the Binghamton Challenger, Greg was up against peer 23 year-old American Michael McClune, currently ranked 362, with a high rank of 267. Greg and McClune have played each other twice, once in Juniors and Greg has won both matches. McClune howver knocked off the No.2 seed in the previous round, so will be no pushover. Opportunity beckons in the tournament for Greg as the top 5 seeds have fallen and the draw has opened up.
It was an inspired McClune in the first set, who served only 3 faults in the set at an incredible 88% first serve percentage, and transferred the pressure to Greg's serve. With only one break point being created by either player, it was unfortunately Greg who faced that point and lost it, losing a quick close set 4-6.
In the second set, the play was again even, but this time Greg faced more second serves and created the chances, but was unable to convert two break-point opportunities, whilst facing none himself, games going with serve to the tie-break at 6-6. In a closely contested tie-break it was Greg who got the decisive break, winning the tie-break 7-5 and levelling the match at 1-set all.

Micheal McClune

With McClune serving first in the third set, Greg was playing catch-up. Greg again forced McClune to face two break points but McClune was serving at above 70% again and closed out those opportunites. Games went to 4-3 with McClune leading. He then managed to get Greg to 30-40 and broke him at the first opportunity, taking a 5-3 lead. Greg tried to counter but McClune was up to the task and served out the match, winning a very close match 6-4, 6-7(5) 6-3.
A very disappointing result for Greg in a tournament which was promising much. McClune had served "off his face" and poor Greg copped a good day out for McClune, whilst not serving too bad himself.

Summer in the States 2012 #11



Partner & mate Greg Ouellette 

In the doubles at Binghamton, Greg was partnered by good friend and namesake, American Greg Ouellette. Their opposition was the USA pairing of 23 year old Derek Difasio and 33 year old Craig Schwartz. College player Difasio is unranked while local Schwartz has a doubles only ATP ranking of 833. With Jonesy serving first the "Gregs" got off to a solid start, holding serve and breaking the USA pairing in their first service game to lead 2-0. They continued their dominance in the sudden death deuce format through the first set, holding their serve easily and breaking the serveof their opposition twice more to deliver a "bagel" 6-0 first set score-line.
Difasio and Schwartz got on themselves on the scoreboard in the second set but not before Greg had broken them again, and trailed 1-3. Greg and Greg were then able to hold their serve easily and cruised through the second set, winning it 6-3 and the match 6-0, 6-3, to progress through to the second round.
Greg has a rest day in the singles and will play his second round match tomorrow.

Summer in the States 2012 #10

The first round of the singles in the Challenger tournament in Binghamton saw Greg get a favourable draw, up against 24 year-old Frenchman Gleb Sakharov, currently ranked 335, after recently achieving his high rank of 322 in May.

Aerial view of Binghamton, NY

Serving first Greg created the greater of the opportunities in the first set, forcing Sakharov to defend eight break-points. He succesfully frustrated Greg on seven of those occassions but Greg did get the one break of serve. Unfortunately Greg also only managed to save four out of the five break-points he faced and the games scores were level, the set going to 6-6 and the tie-break. Fortunately Greg managed to maintain the ascendency and he broke Sakharov twice in the tie-break to win it 7-3 and pouch a deserved first set 7-6.

Frenchman Gleb Sakharov

It was Sakharov serving first in the second set and, whilst Sakharov was only serving at a lowly 45% first serve percentage, Greg was unable to make any inroads into Sakharov's serve. Greg was serving well and winning 100% of his first serves, games going with serve to 4-4 in the set. Greg then upped his intensity and returning well forced Sakharov to 15-40. Greg converted the break and served for the set at 5-4. He did it well, serving out the set to love, winning the match 7-6, 6-4.

It was a welcome return to winning a match for Greg, who despite not playing at his best, stuck with the task and did not get frustrated by not converting his opportunities and got the win by putting himself in a position to win.

Greg plays in the doubles tomorrow, with his next singles match scheduled for Wednesday, in the USA.

Summer in the States 2012 #9

The grass court at the Hall of Fame

Now in an official "form slump" after four losses in winnable matches, it was fortunate for Greg that his mentor and part-time coach Todd Martin arrived in Newport for the tournament week, fulfiiling other engagements in his schedule.

Former World No.4 Todd Martin

 Greg was able to remain in his accommodation in the thirteen or so room mansion in which he had housing (the same as last year) and have the opportunity of getting some court time and training with Todd during the week. 

 He was able to take advantage of Todd's esteemed position in USA tennis and get to practise at the event even though he was no longer in the event. Greg said he had a productive week and was able to work with Todd on various aspects of his game. 

Members palying croquet on the grass

 He was also able to enjoy the everyday activities of the tournament and go to dinner with his tour mates to the various reataurants, and even went on a dinner cruise on the waters surrounding Newport Island, with the tournament.    

Out wiith tour mates Duclos, Cerratani and Yani

On Friday he hired a car with two other players, Adrien Bossel and Ante Pavic, both of which he had played against in recent weeks, and they drove from Newport to Binghamton, New York State. Greg is in the main draw of the ATP Challenger event to be played in Binghamton next week.









Summer in the States 2012 #8

After a few days training in Winnetka, Chicago it was off to Newport, Rhode Island for Greg, for the qualifying of the Campbell's Hall of Fame ATP 250 grass tournament. A main draw entrant last year, the entry list for 2012 was much stronger than in 2011 due to many players wanting to get some grass court matches under their blet prior to the 2012 Olympics.
Greg really enjoys this tournament, with excellent housing, big tournament atmosphere and plenty of off-court activities for the players and guests, with the players being treated very well, so will be eager to do well here.

The famous Hall of Fame Clubhouse

His first round opponent was big-serving 26 year-old South African Fritz Wolmarans, currently ranked a lowly 51o, with a high rank of 198 in May 2011. After achieving that high ranking Wolmarans had an inexplicable form loss, hardly winning a match for the rest of the year but no dooubt on the way back to form now.

Centre court at Newport

The first set saw both player's serving well and it was not long before Greg brought up the first opportunity to break the South African's serve but Wolmarans used his big serve to deny Greg that opportunity. Greg was not forced to save a break-point in the set, with games going with serve to the tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break however it was a different story, with Wolmarans shading Greg, with a two mini-break advantage to win the tie-break 7-3 and snatch the first set 7-6.

Fritz Wolmarans

The second set saw a determined Greg fight back. He broke Wolmarans early in the set and then maintained the advantage, saving a break point to get to 4-2 up. He then converted another break-point opportunity, his second of 5 created, to lead 4-1. Wolmarans held serve and Greg served out the set 6-2, to level the match at 1-set all.  With Wolmarans serving first in the third set, his first serve percentage increased, whilst Greg's dropped to below 50%. It was Wolmarans coming home stronger and Greg was forced to defend four break-point opportunities, whilst Wolmarans serve denied Greg any opportunities. reg saved three of those break-points but a determined Wolmarans managed to snaffle one and get the decisive break of serve. He then maintained his high serve percentage to serve out the set 6-3 and win the match 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3.
Greg was extremely upset with the loss, not wishing to discuss the match, just saying that things were not going his way at the moment. No doubt he was frustrated by his inability to take his opportunities, coupled with a drop of intensity and/or concentration at the end of the match.

Summer in the States 2012 #7

In Winnetka, Chicago for the $50,000 Challenger tournament, where Greg was fortunate on two accounts, firstly to have snuck into the main draw as the last acceptance and secondly to have avoided a seeded player and drawn a qualifier in the first round, as a result having an extra days practise before taking to the court for his match on Tuesday. For his first match on hard court since before his injury in March, the temperature was in the high twenties on a wam Chicago day.

Ante Pavic

His opponent in the first round was 23 year-old Croatian Ante Pavic, currently ranked 502 with a high rank of  426. Another USA College player, Pavic had the benefit of three matches under his belt, but Greg should be confident of getting a good result in the match.
In the first set Greg had Pavic at deuce a couple of times on Pavic's serve and managed to bring up break point a couple of times, but Pavic managed to hang on and, with Greg holding his serve comfortably, games went with serve to the tie-breaker. Greg said Pavic was serving well and hitting the ball well and against the run of play got a mini-break in the tie-break and got to set-point, breaking Greg again to snatch the first set 7-6, winning the tie-break7-4.

Winnetka Centre Court

Annoyed at losing the tie-break Greg briefly lost focus and concentration at the beginning of the 2nd set and Pavic capitalised, breaking Greg on his first service game. Playing catch-up Greg was desperate to break Pavic's serve and get the break back, but Pavic belied his ranking, continuing to play at a high level and not fade away, frustrating Greg in the process. For his part Greg held serve comfortably for the rest of the set but was unable to break Pavic, losing the 2nd set 4-6 and a very close, frustrating match 6-7, 4-6.
Greg said he had perhaps been too passive in the match, expecting Pavic's to not continue playing at a high level, which he did, and should have been a bit more aggressive. Greg had played well, not making manu inforced errors but Pavic had hit more winners.
A disappointing loss which will add to Greg's current lack of confidence and make it tougher for him to close out close matches.
As an aside, Greg's good mate from Townsville, John-Patrick Smith, who had a record making three years of USA College tennis at Tennessee University, won the singles title at Winnetka, his maiden ATP Challenger title. Well done JP.