Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F3 - #1

After a day driving back home from Mildura and another day to let his body recover further, whilst he arranged his equipment, with racquets to be balanced and strung, clay court shoes to be bought and arrangements to be arranged for the next tournament, it was back to work for Greg, with training, hitting and gym sessions working on his conditioning. He advanced into the Main Draw of the next Futures tournament thanks to a late withdrawal, so was relieved not to have to play in qualifying for the singles. 

The Mornington Peninsula

The next two Australian Futures tournaments were to be played on the Mornington Peninsula, the coastal region south of Melbourne, so although close to home for Greg, he could expect to contend with a lot of wind in the coming weeks. And it was on "en tout cas" (clay-like) surface, not his favourite. 
His first round singles match was against Australian teenager, 18 year old Daniel Hobart from Port Pirie, showing good form in being ranked 1060 in the ATP Men's rankings. Serving first in gusty, howling gale wind conditions, Greg held serve then created 9 break point opportunities on Hobart's serve, but gamely Hobart was able to hold serve, games going to 2-2. It was then Greg who faced break points and he was able to save the first to take the score to 3-3, but then, unlike Hobart, he was unable to save the break points against him, handing the advantage to Hobart, for him to lead 4-3, then 5-3. In the blustery conditions Hobart broke Greg for a second time, clinching the first set 6-3.
Undeterred, and unable to do anything about the wind, Greg maintained his composure and brought up more break point opportunities in Hobart's first service game of the second set, this time seizing the opportunity and breaking Hobart to lead in the set. Hobart hit back immediately, breaking Greg to level at 1-1. Greg repeated his break of Hobart to again lead 2-1, then did not offer up another break point in the set, holding serve then breaking Hobart again to lead 4-1, serving out the set to win the set 6-2, and level the match at one set all. 
The third set saw Hobart come from 0-40 down to win the first game. Although frustrated not being able to break, Greg held his composure, games going 2-2. Greg then broke Hobart in consecutive games to serve for the match at 5-2. There was still another twist in the match as Hobart fought back, breaking Greg to get a break back, 5-3 to Greg. Greg was determined not to have to serve for the match again in the blustery gale force wind conditions and in a mammoth game forced Hobart to deuce, then brought up four match point, before finally breaking Hobart to win the set 6-3, and win a match of survival 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Greg said that the windy conditions were the worst he can remember playing in. The clay court surface was being blown off court, playing decent tennis or trying to implement shots he had been working on in practise was impossible. At times it was down right dangerous, having to suddenly change direction on shots on the slippery surface due to the wind, Greg almost damaging his knee by having to twist and adjust suddenly due to the wind. Each shot or serve was a lottery as to where it would land, luckily more of his shots landed when he intends than those of Hobart.

They should have just played hop-scotch to decide the match.

 And he still had his doubles match to come later in the afternoon...