Japan 2014 - Toyota Challenger #2

The indoor courts at Toyota

In the first round of the doubles in Toyota, Greg and partner James Duckworth were up against the No. 1 seeds, the Kiwi Davis Cup pairing of 25 year old Marcus Daniell and 28 year old Russian born Artem Sitak. Daniell and Sitak have had recent success in the doubles game, their concentration on doubles helping them to be ranked 108 and 66 respectively in the doubles.

Greg at back and James holding
trophy in the Shore Tennis Team 2004

Greg and James have not had the opportunity to play together for awhile, but the ex-school mates from Shore School in Sydney, have been doubles finalists previously.
The Kiwi pair started strongly, serving at 100% early on, holding well and getting an early break on the Aussies. James was struggling to find his range on his first serve and with their opponents still dictating on serve, the Aussie pair were unable to break back. The Kiwis broke again to win the first set 6-2.

Daniell and Sitak on NZ Davis Cup
duty

The second set was literally a repeat  of the first set. James was unable to find a first serve and the Kiwis shut out Greg and James by serving at close to an unbelievable 90%. They again broke the Aussie twice, also returning well, and going to a 4-0 lead, eventually winning a comfortable match 6-2, 6-2.
It was a tale of the serve, with the No.1 seeds serving unbelievably well, shutting out James and Greg, and James rarely hitting his first serve, putting pressure on the Aussies to hold.
Not the best way for Greg to end the tour year, a forgettable year beset with injuries.
Roll on 2015.

Japan 2014 - Toyota Challenger #1

In Toyota, for the second of the end of year Japanese Challenger tournaments, Greg had dodged a seed in the draw but still faced a stiff test in the form of 22 year old Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama, currently ranked 265, with a high of 240 in July this year. On the slick indoor surface at Toyota, which Greg considers the fastest on the tour, the Japanese players are vastly more experienced and revel on the surface.

Greg tucking in at Welcome function

Both players started well in the first set and each faced a break point opportunity early in the set but neither was able to capitalise and they held serve. With Uchiyama serving first, games then went with serve to the tie-break at 6-6, Uchiyama just holding serve slightly easier than Greg.


Greg indoors at Toyota

In the tie-break, it was Uchiyama who got the first break, going 2-0 up but Greg hit back, breaking Uchiyama twice and winning five points in a row to go 5-2 up, Uchiyama to serve. Luck was not on Greg's side though and he was  unable to break Uchiyama again, then got broken for Uchiyama to level at 5-5. Greg held to bring up set point on Uchiyama's serve. Uchiyama was able to save that point, then held serve again to lead 7-6, with a set point to him. He then was able to break Greg, winning the tie-break 8-6, and snaring the first set 7-6.

Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama

With the set under his belt and Greg serving first in the second set, Uchiyama attacked, breaking Greg to 15 in the first game, then serving four aces in the next games to go to a 2-0 lead. Greg consolidated at 2-1 but Uchiyama was now a set and a break up and able to play a more relaxed game, serving at over 75% on the slick courts to deny Greg any opportunity of breaking back. He went 4-2 up then again broke Greg, even though Greg was still serving well, to go 5-2 up and serve for the set. Greg was unable to stop Uchiyama winning the set 6-2 and a fast paced match 7-6(6), 6-2.
Greg said he had played well but had no luck when it was needed on break points or in the tiebreaker. Uchiyama had got the break in the first game of the second set when Greg was still wondering how he had lost the first set, and was then able to dictate, serving well to keep Greg at bay.
Greg is scheduled to play his first round doubles match later on the evening, partnered by fellow Aussie and good mate James Duckworth.

 

Japan 2014 - Yokohama #3

Ball person waiting to attend on court

 After the second round Greg had to back-up for his first round doubles match, partnering with young 20 year old Jordan Thompson, from the northern suburbs of Sydney. They were the last acceptance into the doubles and had fortunately dodged a seeded pair, up against a Korean pairing of 18 year old Hyeon Chung, ranked an amazing 180 (for an 18 year old player) and 21 year-old Ji Sung Nam, ranked lower at 502.

Young Oz Jordan Thompson

The first set was a closely fought contest, with Greg and Jordan bringing up five break point opportunities on the Koreans serve, but could only get one break of serve, as against the two the Koreans managed to win off only two opportunities. The Koreans played the clutch points better, winning the first set 6-4.

18 year old star Hyeon Chung

The second set was a reversal of opportunities, but not score, with the Koreans saving the only break point opportunity that Greg and Jordan were able to create, whilst converting two of the seven chances they created. Greg and Jordan managed to save five break points, and despite serving at 68%, still lost the set 2-6, and the match 4-6, 2-6.

Korean Ji Sung Nam

Greg was not happy with the result. He said he had played well but he and Jordan had missed a few volleys and returns, and not taken the chances they created in the first set.
Greg will remain in Yokohama, for a few days before moving on to Toyota for next week's tournament. He is going to train and hit with his old coach James Trottman who is in Japan with young Brit player Kyle Edmund.

Japan 2014 - Yokohama #2

Yokohama courts

 Better weather greeted Greg for his second round match in Yokohama, after early showers delayed the days play for half an hour. His opponent was 24 year-old Chinese Ze Zhang, who had knocked off the No.5 seed Sugita in a quick-fire straight sets win. Currently ranked 191, with a sub 150 high rank last year of 148, Zhang will be a stern test for Greg in his continuing come-back from injury.
Serving first Greg held serve and then immediately had Zhang in trouble in the next game but unfortunately could not convert the opportunity and Zhang levelled at 1-1. Zhang then had Greg in trouble at 15-40 and broke Greg to lead 2-1, then 3-1. He was on a roll after a nervy start and broke Greg again to lead 4-1, then 5-1. Greg was not serving at his best and was again broken to lose a quick first set 1-6.

Courtside concessions

Zhang had the bit between his teeth and with the first set safely won, held serve and then broke Greg's serve for the fourth consecutive time, to lead 2-0. Greg did not give up though and put the pressure on Zhang, bringing up break points on Zhang's serve and this time converting the opportunity to get back the break. He then held serve to love, broke Zhang again to love, then held serve again to love, winning 14 of fifteen points in a purple patch to pocket four games and lead the second set 4-2. Zhang responded and held serve, then got Greg to deuce but could go no further, games going to 5-4 with Greg serving for the set. In another close game Greg held firm and won the set 6-4, levelling the match at one set all. Greg had served well, at over 65% during the set and had reaped the reward
In the third set Zhang had the advantage of serving first and took full advantage after hodling his own serve, attacking Greg's serve. Greg's first serve percentage was over 60% again, but this set he won less than 50% of those points, Zhang again breaking Greg multiple times to go 5-1 up, serving out the set and winning the match over a disappointed Greg 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.
Greg said he had not served as well as yesterday and that the fast courts had him half a step off the pace, something he will have to work on in the off-season. he had played well in patches but could not maintain the intensity throughout the match. A lost opportunity as the seeds in his quarter had both been beaten in the first round.

Japan 2014 - Yokohama #1

Yokohama city skyline

The Asia Pacific part of the ATP Challenger tour moved on from Australia to Japan for the final two tournaments of the year, the first a $50k event in Yokohama, on outdoor hard court. Greg was originally only 3rd alternate, using his protected ranking of 317, but moved well into the main draw after a number of withdrawals in the week proceeding the event, thus avoiding the need to play in qualifying. For his first round match he received a modicum of luck when his proposed opponent, Japan's Uchiyama, ranked 264, was forced to withdraw with an ankle complaint, and was replaced by a "Lucky Loser" who had lost in the final round of qualifying. Greg's replacement opponent was 24 year-old Korean Cheong-Eui Kim, currently near his high ranking, at 410 this week.

Korean Cheong-Eui Kim

First match on, on a cool, overcast and slightly drizzly day, Greg found the early going tough, slow to adjust to the speed of the courts and Kim's game style, but still did manage to get an early break up, leading 3-1. He then had break points to go a double break-up but some careless unforced errors allowed Kim to hold serve and then break Greg, getting the score to 4-4. Kim held to lead 5-4 and then twice had break points on Greg's serve to potentially win the set. But Greg dug deep and saved the break points and held serve to level at 5-5. Then with Kim leading at 6-5, and Greg having to serve to stay in the set, the drizzle intensified and Greg took the opportunity to halt play, and all games were then suspended whilst the rain cleared.

Greg serving in Yokohama

Greg used the time to assess the situation, review the match and clear his head. After about a twenty minute break it was back on court for the players. Greg cleared the first hurdle by holding his serve to take the first set to the tie-break at 6-6, then set about winning the tie-break. He broke Kim's first serve, confidently held his own serve, then broke Kim twice more to lead 5-0, then 6-0. Kim got a point back before Greg converted his second set point to win the tie-break 7-1 and win the first set 7-6.

Greg gets in to volley

Serving first in the second set, Greg was in the groove, holding serve then forcing Kim to deuce and bringing up a break-point, converting the opportunity to go 2-0 up. Greg held to love, then again forced Kim to deuce and then break-point. This time Kim saved three break-points before a dogged Greg fashioned a fourth opportunity and converted this time, to take a decisive 4-0 double-break lead. Greg then threatened to immediately hand a break back, allowing Kim to get to 0-30, but he rallied, winning the next four points to go 5-0 up. Then after Kim got on the board, Greg served out the match to win the second set 6-1, and the match 7-6(1), 6-1.

Kim waiting to return

A good result for Greg but he will need to improve his focus in the start of the match, as he had in the matches in Toowoomba. Greg served well, at 70% in the second set, converting a high percentage of them, and using his big serve to get into the net to volley, putting the pressure on his opponent.
Greg will play his second round singles match tomorrow, as well as a first round doubles match, teamed up with young Aussie Jordan Thompson.

Back in Oz - Traralgon Challenger 1 #7

Back in windy Traralgon for the second $50k Challenger tournament, Greg was in the Main Draw of the singles this week, courtesy of his Protected Ranking of 317. A lot better than having to expend energy in the qualifying rounds, which were predictably delayed due to persistent rain, not to mentioned the wind. In fact the whole of last week's tournament was delayed, with the finals scheduled for Sunday only being played on Monday.
The draw gods were not too kind to Greg, delivering up a formidable opponent in the form of rising Australian star teenager 18 year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis. Kokkinakis is on a similar trajectory t the tp 100 as Nick Kourios, having been a finalist at both the Junior Australian Open and Junior US Open, recently beating top-100 ranked Marinko Matosevic and qualifying for an ATP tour event, to get his current ATP ranking to a high of 158. A tough match for Greg but one of opportunity to which Greg must rise.

Traralgon Tennis Complex

Serving first Greg held serve then immediately had a break chance on Kokkinakis' serve. But Kokkinakis held and then reversed the tables on Greg, breaking him to lead 2-1, then 3-1. Greg tried to fight back but Kokkinakis held firm, getting to 5-4 up and serving for the set. At 40-0 that looked a certainty but Greg saved 6 set points before bringing up a break point opportunity. But luck was not on his side and Kokkinakis saved, and then on the seventh set point held serve to pouch the first set 6-4.
Greg, struggling to get momentum, was immediately in trouble in the second set, saving two break pints before dropping his first serve to trail 0-1, the 0-2, when Kokkinakis held serve. Greg responded though, holding serve for 1-2, then getting Kokkinakis to 0-40, breaking his serve on the second opportunity to level at 2-2, then hold serve for 3-2. On a roll now Greg broke Kokkinakis again to lead 4-2, then 5-2. He then broke Kokkinakis for the 3rd straight game, amazingly rolling off six games in a row, to win the second set 6-2, and level the match a one set all.

Teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis

Greg continued in the third set, winning his seventh straight game to lead 1-0. Kokkinakis rallied and held serve, games going to 2-2 on serve. Greg then, in a critical long deuce game, had four game points but could not serve out the game, eventually saving one break point before Kokkinakis broke him to take the initiative in the third set and lead 3-2. Greg wrested it back, immediatley nreaking Kokkinakis to level at 3-3. But in a see-sawing third set a disappointed Greg dropped serve again to trail 3-4. Kokkinakis now had the bit between his teeth with the finish in sight and went 5-3 up. He then brought up two match points on Greg's serve, converting the break to win the third set 6-3 and the match 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Greg was frustrated at fading at the end of the match and not getting the job done when so close, but said he had bit the ball well and was buoyed by his overall performance against I good opponent. He had not played the clutch points as well as Kokkinakis and suffered for not being able to the chances he created.
Greg is not playing the double, so will return to Melbourne to train and work on a few things in his game before heading for Japan for two more Challenger tournaments.