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.