Aussie Summer 2015-16 #14

The next tournament on the Australian Pro-circuit was in Mildura, in country Victoria, in the north-west corner of the state, near the South Australian and NSW borders. Situated right on the Murray River the picturesque town boast a quality grass court complex, which has hosted many Australian Pro-tour and Junior tournaments. On grass, a surface Greg describes as "fun to play on", as it is soft on the legs and feet and not damaging if you fall.
His opponent was the No.8 seed ,which, if you have to draw a seed, is the best of the bad bunch. 20 year-old Harry Bouchier, hails from Tasmania and is currently ranked 562. Greg had played many a match against Harry's elder brother Eddie in the juniors. Eddie attended college in the USA and has played some pro-circuit tournaments, attaining an ATP ranking, but generally leaves the pro-tennis to younger brother Harry, who he occassionally travels with and supports on tour. Greg and Harry have met once before, Harry winning on that occasion on hard court on a near gale force windy day in Adelaide.

The grass courts at Mildura

Harry served first and was the first to break through, a slow start from Greg seeing him serving at 0-3 down. In the next game Greg was staring at three break points at 0-40, but he managed to get back to deuce and then hold serve to get on the board at 1-3. He was unable to apply any pressure on Bourchier's serve though and Bourchier held serve to serve out the set 6-3.
Greg raced to 40-15 at the start of the second set, only for Bourchier to peg him back to deuce, then force break point and convert to take a strangehold on the match at as set and a break up, again easily holding serve to love to lead 2-0. Greg needed to lift, but again at 40-15, he allowed Bourchier back into the game and get to deuce. Greg was forced to save two break points to avoid what would have been a disastrous double-break. He eventually served an ace to finally hold serve and get to 1-2. 

Tasmanian Harry Bourchier

At this stage Greg  was not making any head way into Bouchier's service and Bourchier was picking off his serve, so Greg changed things up. He started standing in different places, then serving with different angles, trying to disrupt Bourchier's rhythm. He then brought up his first break point on Bourchier's serve, who might also have been a bit despondent at not achieving the vital second break of serve. Bourchier saved the first point but Greg managed to break back to level at 2-2, then quickly held serve to lead 3-2. At 4-3 Greg, growing in confidence and performance, especially on serve and return, broke Bourchier to lead 5-3, serving out the set 6-3 and levelling the match at one set all. '
Bourchier had the all important first service game in the third set and started well, but so did Greg, games going with serve to 2-2. Greg managed to stay close to Bourchier in the next game, then brought up break point at 30-40, converting the opportunity to grab a 3-2 lead. He the stepped up his game, winning his service game to love, to go to 4-2. He was in a groove now and did not face any break points in the third set, serving out the match with a ace, to win the third set 6-4, and a hard fought match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
A relieved Greg was pleased with the way the match had progressed, after a poor first set and some anxiety in the second set when he almost went a double break down. But he recovered well and was pleased to at last win a match at the end of a close third set.
Having not entered in the doubles Greg will next play on Thursday, in the second round of the singles.