Aussie Summer 2015-16 #10

In the qualifying for the Launceston Challenger Greg had to back up on the same day to play his second round match, all un-seeded players having to play two matches on the day, whilst the top four seeds had byes through to the 2nd round, only having to play one match, giving the seeded player a slight advantage.
Again the draw Gods were not too kind to Greg for this second round match, having him matched up against the No.1 seed who just happened to be the guy he was sharing a room with, good mate 28 year-old Kiwi Rubin Statham, ranked 396.Greg got off to a great start, serving first he held serve then broke Statham early to go out to a 4-1 lead. Then the rain came and play was suspended.


NZ player Rubin Statham

At the resumption over an hour later it was Statham who came out firing, breaking Greg to level at 4-4. At 5-5 after a mammoth game Statham again broke Greg to serve for the first set. Greg gamely hit back, saving a set point then breaking Statham to take the set to the tie-break. In the tiebreaker they traded breaks to get to 6-5, Statham leading and serving for the set. Greg again saved set point to swop ends at 6-6, but was broken a point later, Statham snaring a closely contested set 7-6, 8-6 in the tiebreak.The second set was just as keenly contested, both players alternatively holding serve easily, then both saving multiple break- points mid set, before holding serve, eventually getting to the tie-break again. Statham got the early advantage, winning both of Greg's serves to sprint it a 5-0 lead, then held serve to win the tiebreaker 7-2, and the match 7-6, 7-6.
It was an unfortunate draw for Greg, where there was opportunity in all the other matches for him to qualify. The closeness in the match, where both players knew each other's game and strengths and weaknesses so well, was reflected in the statistics, with exactly the same number of points won by each player in the first set and only 5 points more won by Statham in the 2nd set ,being the difference in the tiebreaker score. Greg said the rain break was of significance as he had the momentum and then the court conditions changed after the rain, which evened the match.
On the positive side Greg's body felt good, if only a bit stiff, and his shoulder had come through serving two matches in one day.
And he could celebrate his birthday the next day without having to play a match!