It was perfect tennis weather for the final of the Sydney Futures tournament at the Olympic tennis venue at Homebush, which, to the delight of the sponsors, featured local flavour in the form of two Sydney born players, who both trained at the centre as juniors. Greg's opponent was young 19 year-old Jordan Thompson, who from having no ranking at the start of the year has had an outstanding year and progressed his ATP singles ranking to 361, with two Futures titles in the last two months, including the Futures title in Alice Springs a fortnight ago. Having now won nine matches in a row he was on a hot streak.
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| Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon |
With Greg serving first both players showed few nerves in getting to 2-2. Then with Greg struggling to adjust to the slower pace of the younger Thompson's game and making a myriad of unforced errors, Thompson broke Greg to lead 3-2, then 4-2. Greg rallied to hold for 4-3 but could not break Thompson who held serve to lead 5-3. Then with four first serves Greg raced to 40-15 but an errant drop-shot from Greg and a net cord from Thompson got the score to deuce. Thompson then brought up set point. Greg saved that point to get back to deuce but a double fault gave Thompson a second set point which he converted to pocket the first set 6-3.
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| Jordan and Greg on court |
Jordan held serve to start the second set as did Greg, games going with serve to 3-2, Jordan leading. The two errors and a double fault saw Greg staring at 15-40 and he was unable to stop Jordan converting the opportunity to get a critical break of serve and lead 4-2. Things were looking grim for Greg but he regained his composure, cut down the unforced errors and put the pressure back on young Thompson to serve out the set to get the win. He hit back immediately breaking Jordan and then holding serve to level the score at 4-4. Both players held to get to 5-5, then Greg brought up another break point on Thompson's serve, converting to lead 6-5. Thompson tried to fight back but despite getting Greg to 30-30 he was unable to stop Greg winning the game and the 2nd set 7-5, to level the match at one set all.
Greg had the momentum and seized the opportunity to put even more pressure on Thompson, breaking him again to lead 1-0. Young Thompson fought back and got Greg to 15-40 and had two break-back opportunities. Two good serves from Greg saw the score back to deuce, with Greg only managing to win the point after another three deuces. With Thompson still a bit groggy from not winning the last set, being broken and then being able to break, Greg struck again to break Thompson again, and lead 3-0. Two double faults in a row gifted Thompson an opening and a drop shot winner from him saw Greg facing three break points at 0-40. Greg was determined though and to Thompson's chagrin, some solid play from Greg saw him save those points and hold serve for a 4-0 lead. Thompson then held serve for 4-1, and another long deuce game on Greg's serve got the score to 5-1. Greg upped the tempo, and forced Thompson to 0-40. He duly converted the break bringing up his first hard court title, winning the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
A hard fought win for Greg in a match in which he did not play at his best, struggling at first to adjust to Thompson's game, but his greater experience, coupled with his superior serve, enabled him to fight back and win the match.
Greg had the momentum and seized the opportunity to put even more pressure on Thompson, breaking him again to lead 1-0. Young Thompson fought back and got Greg to 15-40 and had two break-back opportunities. Two good serves from Greg saw the score back to deuce, with Greg only managing to win the point after another three deuces. With Thompson still a bit groggy from not winning the last set, being broken and then being able to break, Greg struck again to break Thompson again, and lead 3-0. Two double faults in a row gifted Thompson an opening and a drop shot winner from him saw Greg facing three break points at 0-40. Greg was determined though and to Thompson's chagrin, some solid play from Greg saw him save those points and hold serve for a 4-0 lead. Thompson then held serve for 4-1, and another long deuce game on Greg's serve got the score to 5-1. Greg upped the tempo, and forced Thompson to 0-40. He duly converted the break bringing up his first hard court title, winning the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
A hard fought win for Greg in a match in which he did not play at his best, struggling at first to adjust to Thompson's game, but his greater experience, coupled with his superior serve, enabled him to fight back and win the match.
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