Aussie Summer 2015-16 #16

Mildura Tennis Centre

 On another stinking hot day in Mildura, with temperatures predicted to soar to around 38 degrees, Greg faced up against the No. 4 seed in the quarter-finals. 23 year-old Queenslander Maverick Banes, currently ranked near his high ranking at 386 in the ATP, has two ITF Futures titles to his name, winning back to back tournament in Croatia in 2014, on clay. Hopefully, for Greg, Banes is not as good on grass as he is on clay. The two players have never played each other  in singles on the pro-circuit.
Greg served first, and got off to a good start. He then pegged back Banes from 40-15, winning four straight points to break Banes and go to an early 2-0 lead. Serving well with a high percentage of first serves, and also returning well against Banes, who was not serving badly, Greg was in the zone, as he proceeded to hold serve easily. He broke Banes twice more, to race through the first set, winning it impressively 6-0. A good score line but still only 1-0 up in sets, so Greg had to maintain his focus and intensity.

The trend did continue in the second set, as Greg improved his serving even more, holding then breaking Banes a fourth time, each break converted at the first opportunity, to go to a 3-0 lead. Banes managed to get on the score board, serving with new balls and holding to love. But, although Banes managed to get Greg to “30” twice in the following games, Greg was able to steady and hold serve, serving out the match at 5-3, to win a dominant match 6-0, 6-3.
It was an excellent match for Greg, his first serve percentage in the 70's, with 11 aces and no double faults, giving up no break point opportunities on his serve. He had also returned well and had dominated, wrapping up the match and getting off court as quickly as possible to avoid the draining heat.
He will play the semi-finals on Saturday.