Following his first round loss in the
Australian Open qualifying Greg decided to get more treatment on his injured
shoulder, having a cortisone injection into the tendon and then no playing or
training for a week. In the next week he then slowly started playing and
training, doing exercises to rehabilitate his shoulder, and make it stronger.
He said it still feels “loose” but is feeling more normal every day and is not
painful, but that could just be the cortisone masking any pain.
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| Burnie Tennis Centre |
On Saturday he decided he would travel to
Burnie to play and see how the shoulder stands up to a more rigorous test. Due
to a couple of late minute withdrawals Greg is seeded No. 8 for the singles and
thus avoided meeting another seed in the first two rounds. His first round
opponent was 28 year old Czech Roman Vogeli, who himself has been out of tennis
with an injury and, now with no ATP ranking, had gained entry into the
tournament using a special protected ranking. His high rank for singles is 410,
so it is a match a fully fit Greg would be expected to win.
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| Article in The Advocate |
Serving first Greg held serve then
immediately had Vogeli facing two break points. Vogeli rallied and saved the
break point to get to deuce but Greg was not to be denied, winning the next two
points to gain the break of serve, then consolidating to lead 3-0. At 4-1
Vogeli again faced break points but this time denied Greg, saving three break
points to hold and get to 4-2. Games then went quickly with serve, Vogeli unable
to prevent Greg from winning the set 6-3.
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| Czech Roman Vogeli |
Vogeli was quick out of the blocks in the
second set, holding serve to love in the opening game but Greg held serve as
well, then broke Vogeli to lead 2-1.
Vogeli fought back getting forcing Greg to face a break point in the next game
but Greg held firm to lead 3-1. Back in the groove Greg was now on a roll,
breaking Vogeli twice more, winning six games in a row, to win the second set
6-1 and the match 6-3, 6-1.
A comprehensive win for Greg and a nice
easy first up match back. He served well and won a high percentage of both his
first and second sets but he says the shoulder still does not right. So the
jury is still out on whether he has fully recovered.
Due to his shoulder problem Greg has decided not
to contest the doubles in this tournament.
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