American Summer 2016 - Gatineau #3

Entry to the Centre

The second round of the singles in Gatineau, Challenger saw Greg matched up against former Canadian No.1 player Frank Dancevic, currently ranked 243. Thirty-one year old Dancevic has had a chequered career, with a high rank of 65, and is now attempting to make his way back up the ranking after a period of inactivity last year. Unseeded in this tournament, Dancevic knocked out the number 8 seed, and with the top two seeds out of the tournament, will be looking to progress further in the draw. A tough match for Greg but one of opportunity as the draw opens up.

The Gatineau Courts

On an extremely hot and humid day, with temperatures in the upper 30s, Greg opened the serving, holding serve then immediately having the first opportunity to break, with Dancevic at 15-40. Two missed returns by Greg allowed Dancevic get back to deuce and hold serve. They then swopped breaks of serve, Greg courtesy of a dead net cord, to get an eventful start of the set to 2-2. They both then saved break of serve opportunities against each other to get to 3-3. Dancevic then broke Greg to go ahead 4-3, then held serve to lead 5-3. Greg fought back, holding serve for 4-5, then having half a chance with Dancevic at 0-30, But Dancevic raised his game and three first serves in a row saw him bring up set point, converting to win the set 6-4.
Both players served well at the start of the second set, playing confidently to quickly get to 3-3 in the hot conditions. Then a few errors saw Greg staring at three break points against him at 0-40. A good serve, another well played point, followed by an ace saw him get out of that jam and hold serve, to go 4-3 up. He then immediately capitalised, forcing Dancevic to 15-40 and having two chances to break. But this time Dancevic emulated Greg, saving three break points in staving off the challenge from Greg and levelling the score at 4-4.

Canadian Frank Dancevic

Both players held serve to get to 5-5, then Greg went down 0-30, giving Dancevic a sniff. An ace brought it back to 15-30, but then Dancevic  brought up virtual match point, having two opportunities to break at 15-40. A very, very close line call went Dancevic's way and Greg was broken, giving Dancevic a chance to serve for the match, which he did in style closing out the set and the match with an ace, to win 6-4, 7-5.
A match of lost opportunity for Greg. he had served well and had generally performed well, except on those break point opportunities where he committed too many errors trying to close out the point too quickly. The heat and humidity had been a problem for both players who tried to keep the points as short as possible in the conditions.
And so ends Greg's American summer of 2016, with a modicum of success in the last tournament, qualifying and winning a round, but not with the overall success during the summer for which he had fought so hard. After a trip to see the Niagara Falls he will make his way back to Australia to renew his US visa, recharge, train and plan for the rest of the year.

American Summer 2016 - Gatineau #2

The main court at Gatineau

Having qualified and now in the main draw of the $75,000 Gatineau Challenger, in Quebec, Canada Greg was hoping for a kind draw to avoid a seeded player and his luck was in, giving Greg the opportunity to try and win two matches in a row, something he has not done for awhile, and also for him to build into the tournament, if he wins.


Brayden Schnur representing Canada
 at the 2015 Pan Am Games

His opponent was wild card recipient, 21 year-old Canadian Brayden Schnur, currently ranked 772, with a high rank of 456. With Greg serving first, Greg was quickly into the zone, holding serving with ease and breaking Schnur to go out to a handy lead. Greg was untroubled as he did not have to face a break point in the set, breaking Schnur again to go a double break up, then serving out the set 6-1.Greg picked up his serve percentage in the second set, serving at over 75% for the set, but Schnur was reading the serve a bit better and he forced Greg to face three break points in the set. Greg was up to the task, saving the breaks against him and then hitting back himself, breaking Schnur twice in the set to win the set 6-2, and the match 6-1, 6-2.
A good match and result for Greg, who said he had played well but said that there was a fine line between winning or losing and luck had gone his way today, with everything he did working.
So two wins in a row at last, and no doubt a much tougher match waiting for him in the second round.  

American Summer 2016 - Gatineau #1

Greg stayed in Granby for a few days, sharing a room and hitting with good friend James Ward, before heading for Montreal and some site seeing with more friends. Then it was off to Gatineau for the qualifying for the next Challenger. In a much weaker, small 16 men draw, no doubt due to the Olympics and other numerous other tournaments, Greg was seeded No. 2 and had a bye in the first round.

Canadian Thomas Susen

In the second and final round of qualifying Greg was up against relative newcomer, 22 year-old Canadian Thomas Susen currently unranked, who had nevertheless won his first round match. Greg was untroubled on serve in the first set, and managed to get the crucial break of serve against Susen, winning the set 6-3.

The second set was a bit closer, Greg's serve percentage dropping slightly in the beginning of the set and they swopped break of serves. Greg steadied and improved his concentration and serve, getting back even in games, then breaking Susen again to win the second set 6-4, and the match 6-3, 6-4.

So through to the main draw at long last after too many close matches that went the way of his opponents.

Now for a decent draw so he can have a chance of winning two matches in a row, and he can start working on improving his ranking.

American Summer 2016 - Granby #2

Greg's next opponent in the second round of the Granby Challenger could have shared transport to the courts with him as they were staying together in an Airbnb residence in Granby, as the town's hotels were full due a number of events over the weekend. 24 year old Italian Eric Crepaldi, currently ranked 412, with a high rank of 262 has not set the tennis world alight but has amassed  six Futures singles titles and numerous double titles over the years and will be another tough test in Greg's attempt to qualify and work his way back up the rankings.

Granby Courts

Greg had the better of the exchanges in the first set, managing to save four break points during the set while converting both the opportunities he created to go a double break and win the first set 6-2. The second set was a closer affair, and this time it was Crepaldi, serving at 73%, who managed to save four break points, denying Greg a break. Greg was serving well, winning a high percentage of his serves but Crepaldi managed to break Greg once out of three chances to snare the second set 6-4, taking the match to the third set.

Leftie Italian Eric Crepaldi

With Greg serving first, both players were feeling the pressure and serve percentages dropped slightly, both players dropping serve once in getting to 3-3. Greg then held serve to lead 4-3, and then managed to bring up a critical break-point on Crepaldi's serve. Crepaldi's shot was called out, then over-ruled by the umpire, much to Greg's chagrin, and the chance was gone. Greg said it was a 50-50 call and he was unlucky not to get the break. Crepaldi held for 4-4, then 5-5. Greg was feeling the effects of the long game and Crepaldi forced him to break-point, converting to break Greg and take a decisive 6-5 lead. Despite Greg's best efforts Crepaldi served out the set 7-5, winning a close fought match 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Greg was bitterly disappointed but said he had played well. There was very little between the players. Neither had dominated but Greg felt he was a tad unlucky in not winning the second or third set, considering the chances he had created. More work to be done.