American Summer 2013 - US Open #1

When the initial entry list for the US Open qualifying tournament, in which 120 direct entrants (based on the ATP rankings at a date three weeks before the event) and 8 wild card recipients compete for 16 places in the main draw, Greg was not in the tournament but was the 14th alternate. With seven wild cards to the main draw and a few withdrawals he moved up the list to be four places our. It was a nervous wait for him to see if there would be any further withdrawals. After a week training with Todd Martin in Florida Greg travelled to New York just a single place out, but quickly thereafter heard that he had made the cut list and would be playing.
To get into the final sixteen and the main draw of the Open Greg would have to win three matches, and potentially beat two seeded players to do so, typically ranked between 100 and 140, or thereabouts. The draw Gods were kind, with a twist. Greg had avoided a seeded player but had draw the only player he had lost to twice this year, 18 year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios from Canberra, winner of the Junior Australian Open, and ranked No.1 in the ITF Junior ranking, with an impressive ATP ranking of 214. A big server, Kyrgios has a big accurate serve and, having very little to lose, goes for his shots when ahead in the match. Greg lost to him in consecutive Challengers in Australia early in the year. Kyrgios had not entered a competitive match since Wimbledon but has been training extensively at the  AIS in Australia. Greg will have to and play well, especially serve well, to win.

Nick Kyrgios with AO Trophy


With Greg serving he held serve, then Immediately had  Kyrgios facing break-point but could not convert, with  Kyrgios levelling the score at 1-1.  Kyrgios then quickly had Greg under pressure in the third game, forcing him to break-point at 15-40 and converting to take a 2-1 lead and force Greg to play catch-up. Neither player started serving well, both players below 50%, but it was Nick who improved during the set whilst Greg struggled with his serve, at around 35%, but still managing to hold serve. Greg fought back but Kyrgios served too well and denied Greg any opportunity to get a break-point opportunity, serving out the set to love , to win the first set 5-4.
The second set was almost a mirror of the first set, with the exception that Greg served much better, and that in the thud game he had game point before Kyrgios forced him to deuce and then break-point. Gregbsavd that point but a determined Kyrgios brought up another break-point and converted to break Greg and again lead 2-1. With both players serving equally well games quickly went along to 5-3, Kyrgios shutting out any attempt by Greg to get back into the match. Greg held serve for 4-5 and made his last attack on Kyrgios, but Kyrgios held firm to win the match 6-4, 6-4.
Greg was naturally disappointed. His comment was that "he (Kyrgios) served amazing". Greg has started slowly, perhaps nervously. The lost break- point opportunity in the second game perhaps being the difference in the match, something which would have put Kyrgios under pressure and made given Greg an opportunity to build on his game. But not to be.