Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F4 #3

In the second round of the doubles in Mornington Greg and Andrew, who had also won the singles title last week, again faced up against the No. 2 seeds Gavin Van Pepperzeel and Brad Mousley, who they had beaten in the finals in fading light late in the evening on Friday last week.

Brad Mousley

Greg, still suffering with a cold, and Andrew, tired from all the tennis last week and a long three set match that morning (which he won), were slow starters and gave up an early break, and any advantage they had, to their opponents. Van Pepperzeel and Mousley were intent on revenge for last week's loss and Greg said they were just teeing off at everything, helped by Greg and Andrew serving well below par at less than 30% in the early stages of the first set. In contrast Mousley and Van Pepperzeel were serving well and once a break up at 3-1, they maintained their lead. Serving for the set at 5-3, Greg and Andrew forced them to break-point at 30-40 but Van Pepperzeel and Mousley responded and saved that point and then won the deciding point to deny them the opportunity to break back, sealing the set win 6-3.

Gavin van Pepperzeel

Van Pepperzeel and Mousley then immediately broke Greg and Andrew, now into the match and serving well, to lead the second set 1-0, then 2-0. They were determined not to be broken and Greg and Andrew could force no opportunities, not even deciding point, as Van Pepperzeel and Mousley served well to effectively shut them out and maintain their advantage to go 5-3 up. They then forced Greg and Andrew to 15-40, bringing up match point and converting, to break Greg and Andrew a second time and win the set 6-3, and the match 6-3, 6-3, bundling last week's title winners out of this week's doubles tournament.
In a match only slightly different from that of last week Greg and Andrew were slightly off their game, down on energy and slow to start, whilst their opponents were pumped and on fire from the get-go, and it showed in the results.