His first round opponent was the No.5 seed, 29 year-old American Rajeev Ram, currently ranked 118, with a top 100 high ranking of 78. A tall player with a big, accurate serve, it will be a tough match for Greg, who will have to serve well to match it with Ram.
On a very hot, humid day, at around midday, it was Greg who served first holding serve, then taking games to 2-2 on serve. Ram then brought up a break point opportunity but Greg was up to the challenge, and denied Ram, holding serve for 3-2. Greg was serving the better of the two players, at around 80%, with Ram at just 50%, and it told in the next game, Greg breaking Ram to lead 4-2, then holding serve for 5-2 lead. Ram held serve and at 5-3 Greg served for the set. In what was to be a marathon game, Ram forced Greg to deuce four times, Greg saving three non-consecutive break points before eventually winning the game, to win the set 6-3.
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| Rajeev Ram at US Open 2013 |
Serves dominated the second set, with Ram serving first and Greg under pressure to hold playing catch -up to stay level, games going with serve to 3-3. Then, with Ram serving the last game with the old balls, Greg upped the ante, forcing Ram to 15-40, and converting the first break point opportunity to break Ram and lead 4-3. Greg now needed to hold serve twice to win the match. He battled his nerves taking the score to 5-3, then served out the set at 5-4, to win the set 6-4, and the match on the first match point 6-3, 6-4.
Greg said it was "Silly hot and I got thru in straight, did a great job today. Played awesome, really happy with myself."
His serve percentages were high, at 66%, with a high win ratio. He also returned well, breaking Ram once in each set, at the only break-point opportunities he created. On his own serve he saved four break points in the first set but did not face any in the second set.
Greg will have a day off tomorrow, and only plays his second round match on Wednesday.
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