Oz Summer 2012-13 #2

 After a week's rest and some more scans of his injured leg, which revealed that there should be no lasting damage to his injured knee, it was back to sme serious hitting and training for Greg, in preparation for the Australian summer of tennis. But there was a little matter of the Australian Open Wild Card play-off for those Australian players not ranked high enough for direct entry into the main draw. Due to some no shows, due to injuries and players electing to forego the play-off and train solidly for the summer, Greg was to be seeded No. 7 for the event in a 16 man field. Greg was not sure if he was ready to play due to his time off for his injury and especially as the format for the play-off was the best of five set matches, but he decided to incorporate the play-off into his training schedule and get some valuable match time.

Melbourne Park Outside Court

The draw threw up the worst result for Greg, against the next best player not seeded, 25 year-old Queenslander Michael Look. Look had beaten Greg on a few occassions in the Juniors and had elected to take up a scholarship at a USA College, where he had graduated before taking on the challenge of a professional tennis career.
Greg has since got his revenge, beating Look, currently ranked 452, in straight sets at Coloundra in February this year. Look, who has a very consistent flat game with a accurate serve, will prove to be a challenge for Greg, who is had a lot of time off and is rusty and down on confidence.
The first set saw Look take the initiative and get an early break on Greg. Greg struggled at first with the windy conditions making serving difficult and the cool weather makign the courts and balls slower and lower bouncing. Greg was unlucky not to convert a few break-point opportunites that he

created against Look and then got broken again, to lose the first set 2-6.

Greg on his forehand

As the sun came out and the day warmed up Greg started getting back into the match, again creating some break point opportunities. Again he was unable to break and games went with serve. Then on the only break-point he faced, Look played the better point, and broke Greg on his first opportunity of the set to go a break up, Greg losing the second set 4-6.

Two sets to nil down and facing a mountain of work to win in this five set match, Greg took stock: He said at that stage he was feeling ok, he felt his play still had some scope for improvement and that Look was playing at his red-line and would not be able to sustain that level of play. So Greg knuckled down and immediately got results, breaking Look early and then holding serve. But mid-way through the set a lack of concentration by Greg saw Look break back, the score going to 5-5. Greg then broke Look and served out the set 7-5, now trailing Look 1-2 in sets.

Queenslander Michael Look

The fourth set mirrored the 3rd set fairly closely, with Greg now growing in confidence and serving better. Greg got the vital break of serve advantage and again served out the set competently, this time 6-4, and levelled the match at 2 sets all.

The decisive 5th set commenced with both players holding serve for 1-1. Greg then broke Look to go up a break 2-1, then 3-1 up. Look upped the ante and served well to hold his serves and then forced Greg to hold his serve, games going with serve with no break point opportunities to 4-3. Greg held for 5-3, and Look replied to get to 4-5 and put the pressure on Greg again, at the end of a tough five sets, to serve out the match. Greg was up to the challenge and did so, win the 5th set 6-4 and a long three and a half hour match 2-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

A good come from behind win for Greg, which will do his confidence much good but will have sapped his energy a fair bit. It is only the second five set match he has played and the first time he has won. He has a days break before playing his second round match.