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.