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.