Oz Summer 2012-13 #1

 Greg arrived back in Sydney on Saturday morning and to cap off the year he has had, his racquet bag was not on the flight. Luckily he did not need his tennis gear immediately, as he was having a well earned break. The bag arrived on Monday afternoon, in time for him to represent the "ATP Sydney" team in the new Asia-Pacific Tennis League, playing in the NSW Conference. Greg had committed to playing for them, if his schedule permitted and it did. It would also give him the opportunity to test his injured elbow.
A team format competition based loosely on the USA Team Tennis model, with best of 4 sets, sudden death deuces and short tie-breaks, each round consists of 4 singles and 2 doubles matches. The competition has about 6 conferences on 4-5 teams each, split up into the States and a conference from Asia. The finalists of the competition play the final in the second week of the Australian Open.

Greg's team comprised ATP players Adam Feeney, Matt Barton, Nick Lindahl and himself, ex-players Luke Bourgious and Ryan Henry and a couple of promising young players Alex Silcock and Mitchell?, most of whom Greg new well.
Up again the Campbelltown Wizards, Feeney started first and sneaked a 3 set win in a very close, highly entertaining match. On the adjoining court Barton wrapped up his match in two sets. Greg was then up against ex-top 100 player Mark Tebbutt, now in his 40's. Tebbutt had a powerful accurate game but Greg had too much power and moved too well to be troubled, using his big serve to good effect to win the match 4-1, 4-2. Silcock came from a set down to win his match in three sets, to put the ATP Sydney an unassailable lease with the doubles matches still to be played.
The coaches them took to the court, with Henry and Bourgeois winning their match comfortably in straight sets but the youngsters went down to the aging Wizards doubles specialists. The ATP Sydney team winning the tie 5-1 to maintain their lead in the NSW Conference.
Unfortunately for him Greg's elbow is still not properly repaired, troubling him on the night and affecting his ability to play at 100%, so more rehabilitation needed.