American Summer 2016 - Kelowna #2

Kelowna Parkinson Recreation Centre

In the singles in the Kolowna Futures Tournament, Greg's run of favourable draws came to an end and he was up against the No.4 seed, Canadian Peter Polansky, winner of last week's Futures tournament in Vancouver. An old adversary and good friend of Greg, 28 year old Peter is also coming off a period of injury and is attempting to play his way back up the rankings, currently ranked at 341 with a high rank 122 in 2014, and doing a good job of it. Greg and Peter had played each other three times in the years past and Greg held a 3-0 record against him, with three very tough 3 set wins. Todays match will be as equally tough and strongly contested, but with Polansky the favourite due to current form.

Canadian Peter Polansky

With Greg serving first, the first three games were decisive. Firstly, in a long first game Greg had multiple games points and saved a few break points before losing his serve, 0-1. He then had break point on Polansky's serve but Polansky denied him, 0-2. Then from 40-0 up Greg got pegged back by Polansky, who won the next five points to gain a double break 3-0 lead. It so could have been 3-0 in Greg's favour. Polansky then held to love, to lead 4-0, before getting Greg to 0-40. Inexplicably, Greg then won the next eight points in a row, holding serve and getting Polansky to face three break points at 0-40. This time Greg managed to convert, getting back a service break, then holding to go to 3-4. However, the effort had taken it's toll on Greg's right shoulder and he had a medical time-out to get some attention. After that it was a different story in the match, with Greg not being able to risk further injury, so not going flat out on his serve. Polansky capitalised, holding serve and then breaking Greg again to win the first set 6-3, and also serve first in the second set.
The second set though was basically a non-contest, Polansky showing his current form on serve to repel Greg's efforts to break him, then picking off Greg's serves, breaking Greg's serve each time, to run out the 6-0 winner of a quick second set, winning the match comfortably in the end, after a torrid first set, 6-3 6-0.
Greg said although he lost he had played his best tennis in this American Summer so far, but his shoulder had hampered his serve and was a problem. He had a good session with the physio after the match which helped quite a bit, the shoulder feeling a lot better and will have some more treatment tomorrow, before deciding how to approach the next few weeks after a good sleep.