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| The Courts in Las Vegas |
The second round of
qualifying in Las Vegas saw Greg up against the No 5 seed 26 year-old Italian Eric
Crepaldi, currently ranked 399, who had recently frustrated Greg in a previous
tournament and had knocked him out of qualifying on that occasion. Greg would
have to perform well to stop it happening again.
Serving first,on
another almost gale force windy day, Greg used his experience
from the match the
day before and was able to dictate in the first set, holding serve, then twice
breaking the Italian to go a handy 2-0 up. He then held for a 3-0 lead before
applying the pressure on Crepaldi again, eventually breaking him again in a
multiple deuce game, to go a double break up. Greg held serve for a 5-0 lead,
then broke Crepaldi for the third time to close out the set 6-0.
With the Italian
potentially on the ropes, Greg then quickly went 40-0 up in the first game of
the second set but then failed to win the game, allowing Crepaldi to win the
next five points, and break serve, allowing the Italian a sniff in the match, a
chance to recover and adjust. Greg knuckled down, breaking back immediately to
level at 1-1. They both then steadied, both holding serve to get to 5-5. Greg held
serve to lead 6-5, then applied the pressure on Crepaldi, forcing him to 30-40
and bringing up match point. Crepaldi was not finished though, slapping a
return winner to deny Greg, then holding serve to take the match to the
tie-break at 6-0.
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| Leftie Eric Crepaldi |
Crepaldi got the first break of serve but Greg broke straight back, and they them repeated the breaks to change ends locked at 3-3. Crepaldi held to go 4-3 up and then won both of Greg's serves to have set point on his serve at 6-3. He converted to win the tie-break 7-3, and the set 7-6, to take the match into a thirrd set. It was the reverse of the match yesterday, where Greg came from behind to win the tie-break and go on to win. Could Greg stop that happening?
Crepaldi kicked off the third set by holding serve confidently, then proceeded to take the match to Greg, breaking a frustrated Greg to go 2-0 up. Greg fought back in the gale force wind, breaking Crepaldi, holding, then breaking again, winning 3 games in a row to lead 3-2. Just when Greg thought he again had the upper-hand, he cold not find a first serve and Crepaldi broke him again to level at 3-3, then go 4-3 up. Crepaldi now had the momentum and he used the pressure to break Greg a third time in the set and give himself the opportunity to serve for the match. Greg tried to fight back but Crepaldi brought up two match points at 40-15. Greg had nothing to lose and went all out, saving the first match point, then the second match point, to get back to deuce. He then brought up break point and converted the chance to break Crepaldi and get to 4-5 in the set. Greg then held firm on his serve to level the score at 5-5. The momentum had shifted again, and Greg broke Crepaldi for a fourth time in the set, to lead 6-5. It was Greg who now had the opportunity to serve for the match. Crepaldi had other ideas and won the first two points to get Greg to 0-30. Greg responded, levelling the score, then bringing up his second match point, this time seizing the chance and winning the set 7-5, and a two-and a half hour long match which had more twists than a roller coaster, 6-0, 6-7(3) 7-5.
So two wins in a row for Greg but still another round of qualifying to go. Greg was relieved that he came away with the win but was frustrated and annoyed that he had given up the first game of the second set, allowing Crepaldi into the match, and that he had not been able to close it out in straight sets. In his words - it was a bizarre match.
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