American Summer 2013 - Vancouver #3

The second round in Vancouver, played late in the afternoon, saw Greg face up against the winner of last week's Challenger in Lexington, Englishman James Ward. Britain's No. 2 player, Ward is a good friend of Greg and had a good winner over Australia's rising star James Duckworth in the final last week. Ranked 179, with a high rank of 137 in April 2012. Ward has had problems with his wrist over the last two years and after surgery is well on the road to getting his ranking up where his talent suggests it should be. An attacking player, Greg will have to match his good mates' game.

Serving first, Greg's first serve was not in attendance but he held serve on the back of five good second serves. He was immediately on the attack and broke Ward to lead 2-0. Ward responded and forced Greg to break point in the next game but Greg held firm and held serve to lead 3-0. Games then went with serve to 4-1, with Greg slowly improving his first serve percentage. He then broke Ward to lead with double break advantage at 5-1, serving out the set 6-2.

With Ward serving first in the second set, both players held serve to get to 2-2, then Greg forced Ward to deuce, then to face two  break-points but Ward denied him, games going to 3-3. Greg again brought up break point and then broke Ward to lead 4-3. But Ward hit back, breaking Greg immediately, to level the score at 4-4. At 5-5 Ward had a 12 point game but got through it to lead 6-5 and put the pressure back on Greg to hold serve. Greg responded to take the set to the tie-break at 6-6.

UK Davis Cup Player James Ward

In the tie-break Ward and Greg both held to go to 2-1. Greg the pouched both of Ward's serves to lead 4-1 with a double mini-break. A good first serve took the score to 5-1 but then Ward got a mini-break back an d held both of his next serves to close the gap to 4-5. The matchwas on Greg's serve and he held his nerve to get match point at 6-4. It was a relieved Greg that won that point to win the tie-break 7-4 and the match 6-1, 7-6(4).

A good win by Greg who returned well and was able to win points and games, despite not serving well. He said it was a very hard match with few free point but again served well in the tie-break, which gave him the win.