The second round of qualifying at Traralgon had Greg matched up against one of Australia's rising junior players, 17 year-old South African born Marc Polmans, currently ranked 1057, with an ITF Junior ranking of 31.
Greg started the match well, holding serve then breaking young Polmans' serve and holding his own again to lead 3-0. Polmans held serve to stay close to Greg at 3-1 but a further hold and break of serve saw Greg serving for the set at 5-1. He held serve to win a quick first set 6-1.
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| A young Marc Polmans |
Greg started the second set just as well, breaking Polmans' serve and holding his own to lead 2-0. But Polmans was not done, holding his serve and capitalising on a drop in Greg's first serve percentage to break Greg to love to level the set at 2-2. Keen not to let Polmans back in the match, Greg re-focused and broke back immediately, then held serve to again lead by a break at 4-2. Polmans held for 4-3 then forced Greg to face a break-point. Greg was able to save and after a couple more deuces won the game to lead 5-3. Greg then put the pressure on Polmans to serve to stay in the match. He forced Polmans to face match point at 30-40 but Greg was not able to convert, Polmans holding serve to turn the pressure back on Greg to serve for the match at 5-4. Greg struggled to 30-30 then played two good points to win the set and match, on his second match point, 6-1, 6-4.
A comfortable win for Greg, who although broken once, never face a break point in the first set. His first serve percentage was low in the second set but he was still able to win, playing 66% of the set on his second serve, including two second serve aces.
Two down and one more to go for Greg to qualify for the main draw.
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