Time to start again #2

Greg remained in Kelowna, Canada, practising with fellow Aussies Matt Reid and Harry Bouchier, who also lost early in the tournament, whilst sweating on whether he would get into the main draw of the Challenger to be held in Winnetka, Chicago. Greg was far out of the draw at the start of the week but due to main draw accepted players doing well at Wimbledon and thus withdrawing, he moved up the alternate list rapidly and by Friday remained just 1 player out of the main draw. Two other players, Kudla and Nielsen did withdraw but unfortunately they withdrew too late for Greg to move up into the main draw, and he was consigned to play in qualifying. The two highest ranked players in the qualifying draw, based on the latest rankings and not on the acceptance list, then moved up because of those late withdrawals. Bad luck for Greg.



20 year-old Sam Shropshire

In the first round of qualifying, Greg received a good draw, avoiding a seeded player. He was up against a local young American wild card Samuel Shropshire, of nearby Evanston's Northwestern University, ranked 1598. First match up, Shropshire was ready to take on the challenge of playing Greg from the get-go. Greg was forced on to the back foot and was making numerous unforced errors, talking to himself throughout the match. Shropshire won the first set 6-2 but Greg got himself back into the match, saving four break points in the second set, to deny Shropshire any advantage and converting one of two break points on Shropshires serve, to edge out the young American and win the second set 6-3, to level the match.Unfortunately Greg could not maintain the pressure, his lack of matches in the past eight months counting against him in the third set. He was unable to convert the break point opportunity and saved two break points on his own serve but he could not save a third, and Shropshire ran out the winner, winning the third set 6-3, and the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

 Greg said he played ok in patches but had struggled to keep the ball in and was not getting the free points from his first serve, his first serve percentage just a touch over 50%. Greg will continue to concebtrate on getting his fitness levels up and attempt to get more match court time by playing in the doubles with American Alex Kuznetsov.