Aussie Summer 2015-16 #5

The second round of the Toyota Challenger saw Greg up against one of the local Japanese players, 26 year old Sho Katayama, who Greg had last played in the final of a Group 2 ITF Junior tournament in Thailand nine years ago. On that occasion, in a match which Greg says the score-line did not reflect the play, Greg gave poor Sho a touch-up, winning the title 6-0, 6-0. Currently ranked 970 I'm sure it will be a different story this time around, although I am sure Greg will be the favourite against the wild card recipient.
Serving first Greg had an extremely poor first serve percentage at the start of the match but however, did well enough with the second serve to hold, against Katayama, the who by comparison was serving in the 67% region and holding serve with ease. Games went to 5-5, with Greg unable to make any roads into Katayama's serve. Katayama then forced Greg to save two break points at 15-40, which he did. Then Katayama hit another superb lob as Greg approached the net, to bring up another break point. He then absolutely teed off a good first of Greg, hitting an amazing cross-court back-hand winner, which Greg had no chance of getting, to break Greg and serve for the set at 6-5. Greg forced him to deuce but Katayama was able to hold to win the first set 7-5.
The second set followed much the same pattern, Greg starting poorly again on serve but quickly improving through the games. Then at 3-2 up Greg had a medical time our to get his left leg taped by the physio. He had not appeared to have a problem, but thereafter dis struggle to move towards his left side. Nonetheless he continued, improving his serving and his shit making as the set progressed.
In one game he hit a clean forehand winner, two aces and a neat little drop shot to wrap up the game in under a minute. Unfortunately he could not do that every game. At 3-3 Greg was forced to save a two break points. Then at 4-3 Greg up a mammoth game ensued with Greg having Katayama also save two break points, with 5 deuces in the game, but Greg was unable to break. Games then went with serve to the tie-break.
In the tie-break, Katayama broke Greg 1st point and then went out to a 3-0 lead. Greg was unable to break back, and Katayama broke again, getting to 6-3 up, serving for the match with 3 match points. Greg played two great points to win both of Katayama's serves and take the score to 6-5. On his won serve he played a perfect point, taking Katayama out wide and having an easy volley into an open court covered, only to see the ball clip the net tape and bounce over his racket. A cruel end to the match, with Katayama eventually getting his revenge on Greg, winning a close match 7-5, 7-6(5).
Greg said that his knee was ok, and that being the last major tournament of the year for him should not be a problem. He thought he had played well overall but was not helped by getting free points off his 1st serve, which was not firing at times. He was annoyed that he had got though a difficult first round only to go down to a lesser ranked opposition in the second round, but such is tennis and something he must work on eliminating from his tennis. He will return to Melbourne and represent Kooyong Tennis Club in the Australian Tennis League and then work on his game, serve, fitness and movement to prepare for next year, of course hoping to stay injury free.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #4

Greg arrived in Japan refreshed and keen to play competitive tennis again, travelling for three hours by fast train from Tokyo to Toyota, with two days to prepare and get used to the slick, fast indoor courts, always a feature of playing late in the year in Japan, and a decided advantage to the Japanese players, who are used to the surface. The draw was not good news for Greg: he had drawn the No.1 seed, 27 year-old Matt Ebden, who was in good form having battled his way back to the cusp of being top 100 again, currently ranked 103 in the ATP and hoping to improve on that to gain certainty of direct entry into the Australian Open. No doubt a match Matt would want to win, just as much as Greg did. It was going to be an interesting match.
Greg led off the serving, and on the fast courts held easily. He then had Ebden go to deuce but could not get a break point, games going to 2-2. Then at 30-30 Greg made a meal of an straight forward volley and then left a volley that dropped in, to hand a break of serve to Ebden, who then held to lead 4-2. Greg fought back though, much to Ebden's annoyance, breaking back to level at 4-4, celebrating with a fist pump, then taking the lead 5-4, then 6-5. But Ebden held serve to take the first set to the tie-break.

Matt Ebden

In the tie-break Greg got the first break, going 2-1 up, then holding serve to lead 4-1. He broke Ebden again to lead 5-1, with a double break. Ebden then appeared to be limping and handed the next two points and the tie-break to Greg 7-1 and the set 7-6.
Then during the set break Ebden took a Medical Time Out, getting some treatment for a leg ailment. Ebden started the second set confidently, holding serve to love. But he was stretching his legs and doing squats to test his leg. Greg held serve then crafted two break-points on a slower moving Ebden, but Ebden slapped some serves and forehands, landing them to get back to deuce and hold serve. Greg held comfortably as did Ebden, the score going to 3-2 in Ebden's favour, whereupon Ebden walked to the net to shake Greg's hand and retire from the match, giving Greg the victory 7-6(1), 2-3.
A surprising result for Greg and vindication of his decision to travel to Toyota, having earned a much needed 5 points, with potentially more to come in the next round. Greg was delighted with the result. He was unsure whether Ebden had carried an injury into the match, or if not, when he had incurred the injury. Ebden only showed signs of any injury when he went down 5-1 in the tie-break, appearing comfortable before that, but one will never know what happened.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #3

Following the Canberra Challenger tournament Greg decided he needed more training and fitness before committing to playing further tournaments. He arranged to be based at home in Sydney to be able to team up with Matt Barton, who is also from the Northern Beaches, and to train at Homebush Tennis Centre, with the help of Australian Davis Cup coach Wally Masur and NSW coach Dave Moore. They had an excellent start to the week but unfortunately on the Wednesday Greg awoke to a stiff and very sore left elbow. He was unable to train and once again had the tedious routine of rest and recovery. As a result he was unable to play in either of the ITF tournament in Wollongong, nor in the first or second Challenger tournaments in Japan.
After about a 10 day lay-off he was back on the courts, training his butt off with Barton. Then he faced an agonising decision - was he well enough prepared and fit enough to incur the expense of travelling to Toyota in Japan for the last Challenger Tournament of the year, on the off-chance of getting a decent draw. Or should he stay in Sydney and continue training and hitting and getting first rate coaching, as he was in a good cycle and presenting injury free and fit for the first time in a long time. He needed the points, as he was now unranked with no points, having lot his hard earned points garnered last year due to the string of injuries this year and he did not want to start the New Year unranked. His protected ranking also expired in December, making the points even more critical. Greg discussed the matter with the coaches and Masur advised him that from what he had seen he was fit enough and striking the ball well enough to compete at Challenger level. All good advice but if he copped a high seed first round, maybe he was not at top 100-150 level just yet?

Greg agonised, weighing up the permutations, then backed by his family, decided to roll the dice, travel to Japan and see how it played out. At worst, if he lost first round, he would be able to get back from Japan, a few dollars poorer, but with time to get back to Melbourne and represent Kooyong Tennis Club in the ATL competition. At best he wins his first round and gets the points needed to compete in ITF competition next year, or progresses even further in the tournament.

Now for a favourable draw... and some good tennis by a hopefully injury free Jonesie.

Aussie Summer 2015-16 #2

The good news from the previous week’s match loss in Traralgon was that other from some normal post match stiffness Greg showed no signs of his litany of injuries, and was good to go for this week’s Challenger tournament in Canberra. Again the draw Gods were not kind, tossing up the No. 4 seed, old adversary and peer Brydan Klein, from Perth but now playing under the British flag. 26 year-old Klein had had his own issue over the years, with both behaviour and injury, but was this year enjoying a resurgence, attaining a high ranking of 169 in September, and currently ranked 178. A similar prospect to last week’s opponent, it was going to be another interesting challenge for Greg to test his level of tennis and match fitness.
Looking a lot trimmer than previously this year, Greg got off to a good start, holding serve easily in the first few games, but Klein was serving equally as well and led 4-3 at the change of balls. Serving with the new balls, Greg over-hit a few first serves, made a few errors and then quickly found himself staring down the barrel of a break-point. He was unable to defend it and Klein had a decisive break, serving for the set at 5-3, holding serve to snare the first set 6-3.

GB's Brydan Klein

The second set started inauspiciously for Greg, with a double fault getting him into difficulty in the first game, offering up three break-points to Klein at 0-40. Greg saved two of the break points before Klein succeeded in breaking Greg, to take control of the match, a set and a break up. A mammoth game at 1-3 down saw Greg go to deuce four times, saving break points and missing out on game points before Klein again prevailed, to take a stranglehold on the set at 4-1 and then go on to win the second set 6-2, and the match 6-3, 6-2.
Greg was pleased with his early performance but still has work to do on achieving match fitness, not surprising seeing how little tennis he has played over the last two years. He is able to match the better players’ tennis, his serving and groundstrokes, combined with some good play at the net, keeping him competitive at this level.
Greg is mulling over his options in the last three weeks of pro tennis this year, with Challenger tournaments in Japan or Futures tournaments in Wollongong or just working on his fitness and game until the new year.