American Summer 2013 - Lexington #2

Hilary J Boone Tennis Complex

The final round of qualifying in Lexington had Greg up against 27 year-old South African Fritz Wolmarans. A winner of 11 Futures and Challenger titles, with a high rank of 198, Wolmarans has been in a form/confidence slump but, now ranked at 452, is hoping to make his way back up the rankings. A big server, much will depend on how he serves.

With Wolmarans serving first, Greg forced Wolmarans to save two break points in getting the score to 3-3. Then, with Wolmarans serving with the old balls in the seventh game, Greg managed to break him and take a 4-3 lead. With rain threatening Greg quickly went to 40-0 up but, perhaps rushing to finish the game and condolidate the break before it rained, he served consecutive double faults, letting  Wolmarans back into the game. Greg managed to recoup and save two break points but then the rain forced them off court at deuce.

After a long delay it was decided to move the matches indoors. Not ideal as it changes the court surface and at Lexington the indoor courts at not air-conditioned, making it very hot and humid.

Scoreboard at the College courts

Recommencing at 4-3 up with Greg serving at deuce, Greg ensured he held serve to lead 5-3 and put the pressure on Wolmarans to hold serve. Greg broke him to snare the first set 6-3 and also serve first in the second set.

Greg held serve, as did Wolmarans, but was then, at deuce in the next game, forced to save three break points. He raised his game, saved each break-point opportunity and then held to get to 2-1. With both players serving well games went to 5-4, Greg with the advantage. He again put the pressure on Wolmarans to hold and stay in the match, and forced Wolmarans to 0-40 and three match points. But Wolmarans responsed and, to quote Greg, hit "ace, huge second serve I barely touched and fore-hand winner, was just too good" to stay in the match, holding serve to level at 5-5. At 6-6 the players went to a see-sawing tie-break, swopping 3 mini-breaks of serve, to get to 5-5. Greg then broke Wolmarans again to bring up another match point, serving at 6-5. Then as Greg describes it "I served wide, he crushed a back-hand return down the line and I hit a lucky half volley open court on the line, only to watch him hit a full running fore-hand angle cross court winner. It was unbelievable and heart breaking at the same time". After that Greg lost the next point and Wolmarans had set point, hitting a good first serve to win the tie-break 8-6, levelling the match at 1 set all with a 7-6 set win.

Fritz Wolmarans

Greg was fired up at the start of the 3rd set and, with Wolmarans serving first, he broke twice to lead 3-0. But then, serving with the old balls he stuttered, and Wolmarans broke back and held serve, to close to 2-3. Greg was still a break up and was able to hold serve to get to 5-4 and serve for the match. Wolmarans denied him his fifth match point in getting to deuce but Greg held firm, winning the game and the set 6-4, for a hard fought 6-3,  6-7, 6-4 win, to qualify for the main draw of the tournament.

It was a tired and slightly cramping, but very relieved, Greg who departed the courts. The irony is that poor Wolmarans, also tired and sore, is staying in the same housing as Greg.