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.