Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F3 #3

Mornington entrecote courts

With a rest day in the singles on Wednesday, Greg still had a match to play in the doubles. His second round match with partner Andrew Whittington was to be a much sterner test than their first round match, up against the No.1 seeds, Stephen de Waard from Queensland and teenager Marc Polmans, also from the Kooyong Club in Melbourne along with Greg and Andrew. De Waard and Polmans had some good results last year and this year, climbing the rankings to be ranked 295 and 292 respectively, with seven Futures doubles titles won as a team.

Partner Whittington

On a much calmer day, but still with the wind very breezy, Andrew and Greg started well, breaking the No.1 seeds early to lead 3-0, then 4-1. They then broke again and, serving well throughout the set, served out the set 6-1.
The second set would prove much tougher though, both teams swopping breaks of serve in getting to the 5-5. Greg and Andrew were also forced to save deciding deuce point in consecutive serves early in the set, both times succeeding in denying their higher seeded opponents the break.  De Waard and Polmans then saved deciding break-point in the next game to go to 6-5, forcing Greg and Andrew to serve to stay in the set, which they did to go to the tie-break at 6-6. The last thing Greg and Andrew wanted was to play a match tie-breaker, so it was with much relief when they were able to get ahead early and stay ahead to get to 5-4 up. Their opponents broke back to level at 5-5 but Greg and Andrew then held serve to bring up match point, albeit on their opponents serve. The seized the opportunity to break again, to win the set tie-break 7-5, wrapping up the match in two sets 6-1, 7-6.
Greg said the wind was still blowing quite hard, but they hardly noticed it as it was a lot less wild than on Tuesday and he and Andrew were able to serve well and play good serve-and-volley tennis. So into the semi-finals in the doubles.