Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #9

After the excitement of winning the doubles yesterday, it was back to singles business for Greg in the $10k Futures event at the Racquet Club of Irvine in Orange County. His opponent was a former two time All-American at Illinois University, 24 year-old Dennis Nevolo. Dennis has recently started to make his mark on the Pro-circuit tour, winning his first singles title three weeks ago in the Futures tournament at Claremont, and is now at his ranking of 381. A player in form who will test the current form of Greg.
The first set was a close affair, with games going to 3-3. Greg held serve to lead 4-3 and then forced Nevolo to break-point, converting the opportunity and taking a 5-3 lead, to serve for the first set. Unfortunately he started with the service game with a double fault and then facing break-point, finished with another double fault in over trying to close out the set, letting Nevolo back into the set at 4-5. Nevolo held serve and then games went to the tie-break at 6-6.

Dennis Nevolo in action

In the tie-break the players swopped breaks before Greg found himself again behind at the death, losing the tie-break 7-5 and the first set 7-6.
The second set saw Greg trailing early. He said later that his back had stiffened up and his body was tired from the efforts of the week, with progressing far in both the doubles and singles draws, after being off for six months with injury. He tried to stay with Nevolo, who had grown in confidence after winning the first set but was broken again, Nevolo going on to win the set 6-2, and advance to the finals with a 7-6(5), 6-2 win.
Greg was disappointed with the result but was pleased with his overall performance for the week, with little problem from either his previous shoulder injury or the leg injury which plagued him last week. Only hope that the back stiffness is not a problem.
He will have the opportunity to rest his body and recover a little as he is now scheduled to return to Australia to attend the wedding of his good mate and ex-player Ryan Bellamy to fellow tennis player Monique Lynch next Saturday in Temora, where Greg will also officiate as Ryan's Best Man. 

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #8

After his QF singles match Greg was scheduled to play in the Doubles Final of the $10k Futures tournament at the Irvine Racquet Club with partner Greg Ouellette. Their opponents were locals Junior Ore and his coach Carsten Ball, a good friend of Greg, with whom he has been staying with at times whilst in Los Angeles during the last two months. 22 year old Ore has not competed a lot this year but won the doubles title last week in the Futures tournament at Costa Mesa, playing with a different partner Jeremy Nicholas. Carsten is also not an active player, having given up touring and playing on the pro-circuit  few years ago, but is still no slouch at the doubles game, boasting an impressive 33 doubles titles in his doubles career, in mainly Futures and Challenger events but with an ATP doubles title won at Newport with Australian Chris Guccione.

Ore, Ball, Jones & Ouellette

On a warm sunny afternoon, the Gregs dominated the first set, getting a break ahead, then breaking again to win a quick first set 6-2.
The second set was a closer affair, with Ball and Ore fighting back, getting to 3-2 up then breaking the Gregs to take a 4-2 lead. The Gregs hit back immediately, breaking to get to 3-4, then holding serve to level the score at 4-4. They tried to continue the run, bringing up break-point at 30-40 on Ball & Ore's serve. Ball & Ore saved to get to deuce and, in the sudden death deuce format, held again on the next point to go 5-4 up. They then forced the Gregs to 15-40. The Gregs saved the two break points to get the score back to deuce but lost the sudden death deuce point to lose the game, and the set 4-6. The match, level at one set all, was to be determined by a match tie-break set - first to ten points with an advantage of two points.
The teams swopped two break points each in getting to the midway point at 5-5, the Gregs holding serve to lead 6-5. They then won both of Ball & Ore's serves to take a stranglehold on the tie-break leading 8-5. They held their service points to serve out the match, winning five points in a row to win the tie-break 10-5, and the doubles title with a 6-2, 4-6, (10-8) win in a competitive but good spirited match.
An excellent result for Greg which will boost his confidence.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #7

Third round of the Futures at Irvine and Greg was facing up against a hot young USA prospect, 16 year-old Taylor Fritz, who has had a break-out season in the ITF Juniors this year, reaching the semis at Junior Wimbledon and QF round at the US Open, to be ranked 21 in the Juniors at the age of 16. Fritz comes with a tennis with his Dad an former pro-circuit professional and his Mom a former top ten WTA player. Still in the early days of his pro-career, Fritz has not had that kind of Junior success at Pro-circuit level yet but is one of the higher ranked of his age, currently ranked at 1227. Fritz beat two competent players, including the No. 3 seed,  in getting to the QF round so it will be an interesting match for Greg.

Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon

Playing on the centre court this time, with a newer rougher surface which is slower than the outer court surfaces Greg took awhile to adjust to the speed of the court and found himself a break down early in the first set. He adjusted accordingly and managed to quickly get the break back to get to 2-3 on serve. Games then went on serve to the tie-break. Greg got the all important break mid-way through the tie-break and then went on to break Fritz again, to win the tie-break 7-3 and pouch the first set 7-6.
The second set saw Greg, with the advantage of serving first, go an early break up A sloppy service game saw Fritz break back to let him back into the set. Greg tightened up his game and they again went to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg was growing in confidence and in the tie-break was all over Fritz, dominating the points and running away with the tie-break to win it 7-1, and a hard fought match 7-6(3), 7-6(1).
Greg said he was pleased with his performance against a young USA player who had all the crowd support. He felt lot more relaxed out on the court, which he contributes to being out on court, in both singles and doubles a lot more, and of course being successful. With winning comes confidence.
In the doubles yesterday Greg and partner Greg Ouellette won a close match against the No. 2 seeds, Deighton Baughman and Joseph Digiulio. They held their nerve in the second set tie-break in which they got an early two break point advantage but saw that whittled away for the score to be back on serve, before winning the last two points for a  6-4 7-6(5) win. They play the doubles final today up against Greg's good mate and part-time Los Angeles host Carsten Ball and his tennis pupil Junior Ore.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #6

Irvine Racquet Club

In the second round of the singles of the $10k Futures at Irvine Racquet Club, Greg was up against USA teenager, 19 year old Gage Brymer, as yet unranked in the ATP.

The first set went according to script for No. 7 seed Greg, who served 8 aces in not facing a break point the whole set and returned just as well He converted two of the four break points he created, breaking Brymer twice in winning the first set 6-1.

19 year-old Gage Brymer

With Brymer serving first in the second set, Greg concentrated on holding his serve, saving a break point in his first service game, games going with serve to 3-3. Greg then upped the ante and managed to break Brymer on the third break point of Brymer's next service game to go 4-3 up. Brymer responded getting Greg to deuce in the next game but Greg held firm, consolidating the break at 5-3. Brymer held serve, then Greg served out the match to love, ending with a sweetly hit ace, winning the set 6-3 and the match 6-1 6-3.

A tidy match for Greg with 12 aces and just two double faults. Tougher matches ahead will test his current form.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #5

At the Racquet Club of Irvine for this week's $10k Futures event, Greg's first match was the doubles, this time back with Greg Ouellette. Against the inexperienced pairing of Skyler Butts from Hong Kong and Warren Wood of the USA, the Greg's did not have things all their way but still got the job done with one break advantage in the first set and two in the second, to win 6-4, 6-2.
In his first round singles match Greg, seeded No.7, was up against 22 year old Cuban Randy Blanco, ranked 1744, who had just the previous year defected from Cuba, whilst playing in a Davis Cup tie in Central America. He and a team-mate skipped away from the team and flew to Miami to defect. A brave move by a young person.
In the match Blanco got off to a slow and erratic start, and Greg capitalised, dominating the first set, breaking Blanco three times to deliver a "bagel" first set score-line of 6-0. Blanco was not down though and came out swinging in the second set. Unfortunately Greg let him back into the match, swopping breaks of serve with Blanco twice in the set and eventually getting to the tie-break at 6-6. 

Cuban Randy Blanco

Greg could not have been happy when Blanco wrested the tie-break away, winning it 7-4 and the second set 7-6, levelling the match at one set all.
In the third set, with Greg serving first, it was Greg who got the decisive break, getting to 4-2 up. Blanco tried to fight back, saving break point in his next game, to get to 4-3, then forcing Greg to deuce in his next service game, but Greg held firm. Then, at 5-3 up, Greg brought up match point on Blanco's serve, converting to win the set 6-3 and a longer than necessary match 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-3.
In the end a win for Greg but he will not be happy with the score-line or the fact that he served just 2 aces and 8 double faults. He did manufacture 20 break point opportunities but converted only 6 of those break points.
The Greg's still had a tough doubles match to play, as the last match of the day, up against the No. 4 seeds Dennis Nevolo and Ecudorian Sebastian Rivera. It was a good result for Greg, both playing well in posting a solid 63 62 win, to advance to the semi-finals. Also Greg said that his shoulder felt good throughout both matches and a small leg injury he had been carrying was well on the road to repair.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #4

This week Greg was still in Los Angeles to play in the Costa Mesa Pro Classic $10k Futures event. He was in the Main Draw and had a tough first round assignment, up against Russian born American, 20 year-old Dennis Novikov. Novikov is one of the many up-and-coming young USA players, and having won two Futures titles this year, is currently ranked near his best ranking at 452. Novikov was not entered in the event and had come through qualifying, winning four matches for the right to play in the main event, so will be quite used to the court conditions. The No. 5 seed will be a challenge for Greg in the first round.
The first set was a tight affair. Greg had break point opportunity but could not convert. Despite serving 6 aces in the first set, Greg faced three break-points on his own serve, saving two but was unable to hold, going down a break. Novikov served out the second, winning it 6-4.

Dennis Novikov

In the second set games went with serve to 4-4. Greg then went 0-30 down but recovered to hold and go 5-4 up. He then forced Novikov to 15-40 and had two break points to win the set. Novikov responded and the chance was gone, as Novikov levelled at 5-5. Greg was struggling with the old balls, with balls changes less often in the Futures tournaments, who knows why. He again recovered from 0-30 down to hold serve and go 6-5. Novikov then held as well taking the game to the tie-break.
In the tie-break, similar to Greg's previous two service games, Novikov got the early break and Greg was unable to break back, Novikov breaking again to win the tie-break 7-2 and a close hard fought match 6-4, 7-6(2).

Disappointing for Greg, but he served his first serve well, getting much reward when the balls were fresh, serving 8 aces but not the result he wanted. Novikov seized the moment and went on to the final, beating Australian Matt Reid in a triple tie-break match, eventually losing to Jarmere Jenkins.

In the doubles Greg teamed up with mate Carsten Ball, who made a rare appearance on the tour, and they combined to win their first round 6-3, 6-2. In the second round they served 13 aces but still came out on the wrong side of the score-line, going down to USA's MCdonal & Redlicki 3-6, 6-7(4). Greg and Carsten had their chance in the tie-break servingat 4-3 but then lost their serves and four point on the trot to lose the tie-break 4-7.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #3

In the third round of qualifying in Claremont, Greg, the No.1 seed, was up against 20 year-old Dutchman Max De Vroome, currently ranked 2131. Big serving De Vroome plays No. 3 in college tennis at USC, who won 4 national titles in a row, so will be a sterner test for Greg.

On a sunny 36 deg day, on a lively hard court, games went quickly with serve, with the giant Dutchman "serving bombs out of a tree" and there were no breaks first set in the set. In the tie-break Greg was able to get the vital break and skipped ahead to pouch the tie-break 7-2, and take the set 7-6.

With the balls getting older and softer there were five breaks of serve in the second set, unfortunately three to De Vroome and only to to Greg, with De Vroome winning the set 7-5 at the death. In the third set Greg was starting to tire after two hours in the 36 degree heat. His second serve was letting him down under pressure, having not served kick serves for almost 5 months his second serve is still a work in progress, but improving every match he plays. Greg gave away a break of serve at 1-2 and De Vroome capitalised. Greg was unable to get the break back and De Vroome held on to his serve to the end, winning the third set 6-3 and a long, hot match 67(2), 7-5, 6-3.

A close match for Greg but not the result he desired. It could have gone either way in the second set but was not to be. Disappointing for Greg as he was hoping to get more match practise, but perhaps a blessing in disguise in that at this stage of his come-back it may have been too much tennis, too much serving for his shoulder in one week. He is going to try and get into the doubles which will give him more court time, albeit in shorter and less intense serving circumstances.
De Vroome qualified anreached the second round of the Main Draw.
In the doubles Greg played alongside his friend Greg Ouellette. Greg said he played well but the same could not be said of Ouellette, and they went down to a USA College pairing of Helliar and Manlow, both from Great Britain, 6-3, 6-3.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #2

The second round of qualifying at Claremont had Greg matched up against 19 year old Jason Amos American Jason Amos, a collegiate player at the University of Oregon. Currently unranked in the ATP, Amos qualified at the Winnipeg Futures and pushed Canadian Bester, who Greg lost to n the second round, to 76 in the first round, so is a player who knows his way around the court.
Greg started the match well and was able to break Amos twice in winning the first set. The second set was a struggle though, with Greg breaking serve early to take an early lead. Some nervous second serves, a result of not playing competitively for awhile, saw him drop serve and lose his advantage, going down 2-4. He fought back as Amos struggle to maintain his lead, and levelled at 4-4. Greg said they then plays some quality tennis in getting to the tie-break at 6-6.
The tie-break was a tense struggle, Greg's experience and big first serve helping him to stay with Amos and eventually close out a very close tie-break 8-6, winning the match 6-2, 7-6(6)..
Greg said whilst the second set was close it highlighted his need to serve more aggressively on his second serve. He plays the third match on Sunday, California time.

Back in the Saddle - USA Futures #1

Following the tournament in Winnipeg, Greg returned to Los Angeles, where the plan was to train for a week then go back to Canada for two more Futures tournaments. Greg however reassessed the situation and as the tournaments where on clay and indoor hard court, two surfaces he had not played on for well over a year and seeing as he has been training on hard court since February, he decided to change his schedule. He pulled out of the Canadian Futures and will now contest three $10k Futures, all in California, near Los Angeles, on hard court, in a sunny climate, where hopefully he won't be forced to play more than one match a day, with no rain delays.

Unfortunately due to his late decision to compete in the USA tournaments, Greg was not entered in this weeks tournament, so will have to contest the qualifying, and with a 128 player draw, that means winning four matches to qualifying. The entry level of the pro-circuit is brutal, as you then have to win the first round before getting any ATP points.
Still, Greg is seeded No.1 in qualifying, and is the highest ranked player, but will be under a ton of pressure to qualify against much younger players, hungry for success or to gain their first ranking point. His first round opponent was 18 year-old Greek Chris Mikravos, unranked as yet.
Greg said he was never under any pressure in the match, winning the match pretty comfortably 6-1, 6-1. He said he had served well and that he had no adverse feeling in his troubled right shoulder, so hopefully the shoulder is now ready for the tougher challenges which lay ahead. One down three to go to Main Draw.