American Summer 2013 - Binghamton #2



Binghamton skyline

The draw gods had fun at Binghamton this week, with Greg up against the same player he roomed with at Newport and played against in the singles, JP Smith, and his Aussie partner, and good friend of Greg from NSW, Adam Feeney. They were the No. 1 seeds, with both Smith, at ATP74, and Feeney, at ATP100, at career high ranking in the ATP doubles. Formidable opposition, going on rankings.

Queenslander JP Smith



Serving first Smith and Feeney held serve and then brought the Gregs to sudden death deuce break/game point. This point the Gregs managed to save to get to 1-1 but they were unable to stop the Aussies from winning the next 8 points, to go a break up at 3-1. The Gregs were unable to break-back and then dropped their serve for a second time, Smith and Feeney going 5-1 up and then serving out the set 6-1.

Adam Feeney from NSW

The Gregs held serve to start the second but in a repeat if the first set, Smith  & Feeney broke at deuce and then held at deuce to go 3-1 up. Greg held for 3-2 but were unable to break the Aussies who extended their lead to 5-2, winning another deuce sudden death point. The Gregs made a last ditch effort to get back into the match, getting Feeney to 30-40 but were denied the break of serve with two good points by Smith & Feeney, who held to win the match relatively easy 6-1, 6-2.The No. 1 seeds played the big points better on the day. It is a tournament Greg will have to quickly like to forget and put behind him as he now heads to Lexington for the next Challenger, most likely having to play qualifying as he did not make the main draw cut.
After the doubles, the annual Binghamton "fast serve" competition was held. With a racquet borrowed from JP by Greg (because it had a heavier weight head), Greg managed to top all the other big server's, like Ilja Bozoljac, and scooped the $350 top prize for the fastest legal serve, clocked at 134 MPH. Greg was very chuffed... but could not replicate those serves in the doubles match.