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.