Greg's second round
opponent in the singles in windy Mornington was a fellow Sydney Northern Beaches player, the
No. 7 seed Chris O'Connell, currently ranked 492. Twenty year old O'Connell had
taken a short break from competition at the end of last year, working to
accumulate funds to pay for his tennis, whilst training and hitting. Back on
the tour in good form, O'Connell took out the singles title in Port Pirie in
February.
Greg and O'Connell both had the bit between their teeth at the beginning of the second set, reeling off the next 6 games to get to 3-3. Then, serving with the older balls in games 19 and 21, as is the case in Futures matches where players only get new balls after the first 9 games and then 13 games later after 22 games (unlike in the ATP at 7 and 9 games where they play with newer, harder balls, which suits a the harder hitting player like Greg's game better), Greg struggled to get any zip with the balls and was broken in both service games, to suddenly lose the set 6-3 to O'Connell.
With the momentum behind him, O'Connell then broke Greg, this time serving with new balls, early in the third set, to seize the initiative and lead 3-0. Greg rallied but was unable to put any pressure in the ensuing games on O'Connell, who was serving at over 80% of 1st serves, games going to 4-1, then 5-2. Greg held serve to force on O'Connell to serve for the match, but on O'Connell continued his good serving and blocked any attempt by Greg to get a look in, winning the set 6-3, and the match 67(5) 6-3, 6-3.
Greg was disappointed with the result but happy with his performance on the entrecote surface, identifying a few thing he could do better and work on. In any event he had little time to dwell on the result, as he the semi-finals of the doubles still to play that evening.
 |
| Aussie Chris O'Connell |
With O'Connell
serving first, he started the better, holding serve then breaking Greg to lead 2-0. But Greg hit back, breaking back immediately, then holding serve to level at 2-2. O'Connell again took the advantage when he broke Greg for a second time, holding serve to lead 5-2. Greg was undeterred, holding serve, putting pressure on O'Connell to serve for the set. The pressure told and Greg was able to break back, then hold serve to level at 5-5.
Both players then held serve to go to the tie-break at 6-6.
In the breaker Greg
broke first serve, racing ahead to 2-0, only for O'Connell to break back. Greg
managed to stay ahead and broke to lead 4-2, then had four set points at 6-2.
O'Connell won the next service point but could not stop Greg from winning the
tie-break 7-3, and lead the match by one set to all.  |
| O'Connell's serve was at over 80% in 3rd set |
With the momentum behind him, O'Connell then broke Greg, this time serving with new balls, early in the third set, to seize the initiative and lead 3-0. Greg rallied but was unable to put any pressure in the ensuing games on O'Connell, who was serving at over 80% of 1st serves, games going to 4-1, then 5-2. Greg held serve to force on O'Connell to serve for the match, but on O'Connell continued his good serving and blocked any attempt by Greg to get a look in, winning the set 6-3, and the match 67(5) 6-3, 6-3.
Greg was disappointed with the result but happy with his performance on the entrecote surface, identifying a few thing he could do better and work on. In any event he had little time to dwell on the result, as he the semi-finals of the doubles still to play that evening.
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