After almost a month
of not playing competitive tennis, recuperating from a groin strain, attending
friends Guy and Adene's wedding in LA, and training hard to get back to peak
fitness, it was back to the USA for the summer, a F25 Futures tournament in Charlottesville Greg's first tournament of this tour.
Greg's first round opponent was 22 year old USA college player Jonathan Ho,
currently ranked 1985. |
| Snyder Tennis Centre |
On a steaming hot
day, it was an early 9am start for Greg, who got off to a great start, holding
serve then breaking Ho and holding serve again to go to a 3-0 lead. Despite
serving at below 50%, a run of 11 points in a row saw him go further ahead, to
5-0, showing that his all court game was in good shape. However, Greg was unable, to
finish Ho off. Ho gamely saved two set points against him, eventually holding
serve for the first time in a long deuce game, and playing himself into some
form and confidence. Greg then served out the set 6-1.
 |
| Jonathan Ho |
Serving first Ho was
relieved to again hold serve to lead 1-0 in the second set, and now it was Greg who was playing catch-up and
having pressure put on him to hold serve. Games went with serve to 3-2, Ho
leading, when Greg was forced to fend off a break point opportunity. He served
his way out of trouble, and responded by breaking Ho to lead 4-3. Inexplicably
Greg then served a poor service game, saving one break point before handing the break
back to Ho. With Ho now having the momentum he held serve and forced Greg to
face set point against him at 5-6. Again Greg rose to the challenge, saving two break
points before taking the set to the tie-break at 6 games all.
It was a very relieved
Greg who broke Ho on the first point, of the tie-break then swapped breaks to change end at 3-3.
Greg the upped the ante and reeled off 3 points to have three match points at 6-3. Ho
saved the first point but was unable to deny Greg the win, Greg winning the
tie-break 7-4, and the match 6-1, 7-6.
Greg had let Ho build
some confidence at the end of the first set by not closing out the set quickly, and then was forced to play from behind as Ho had the benefit of serving first in the second set. Overall he had played well, in what Greg described a very hot conditions, but he had not served well and gave Ho a look at a lot of second serves. Greg served 7 aces, all in the second set, countered by 5 double faults so will have to improve on his serve.
In the doubles, Greg was playing with good friend Rubin Statham, and they came through their match competently, up against local teenagers Justin Butsch and Alex Rybakov, winning 6-3, 6-3.
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