Australia in the Spring 2016 - Canberra #3

After a days break it was back to work for Greg in the first round of the Canberra Challenger tournament, this time with luck on his side in the draw. Greg had drawn the No.2 seed 97th ranked Yoshihito Nishioka, but unfortunately Nishioka was struggling with illness and was forced to withdraw. A bit of luck for Greg, who still had a battle on his hands, up against the "lucky loser" replacement for Nishioka, fellow Aussie 23 year-old South Australian Darren Polkinghorne. Currently ranked 1042, Polkinghorne's consistent game will test Greg's resolve.
Serving first, six first served by Greg set the tone for the set, games going with serve to 2-1. Greg then for Polkinghorne back to deuce, then brought up break point, converting to go 3-1. He held serve confidently to get to 4-1, then broke Polkinghorne again to take a stranglehold on the set at 5-1. He served out the set well to win it 6-2.
Polkinghorne served first in the second set and Greg was quick to put the pressure on, bringing Polkinghorne back to deuce once again, the breaking him again to take a handy 1-0, then 2-0 lead in the set. With Greg serving at a high percentage, games went to 4-2, then Greg again broke Polkinghorne to take a decisive 5-2 lead, and have a chance to serve for the set. But Polkinghorne upper his game, and with Greg suddenly struggling to find a first set, forced Greg to face three break points at 0-40. Greg saved one point but could not stop Polkinghorne breaking, to get to 3-5, still a break down. Greg to forced Polkinghorne to deuce again but this time Polkinghorne held firm and won his serve too get close to Greg at 4-5. Greg served for the set again but again Polkinghorne's determination, coupled with the momentum and a drop in Greg's serve percentage, saw him break Greg for a second straight game and level the set at 5-5. Polkinghorne held for 6-5 then attempted to break Greg again, but Greg responded, getting to 40-15, then  winning the game to take the third set to the tie-break. Greg could have done with that service game a few games earlier.

South Australia's Darren Polkinghorne

Greg was straight on the attack in the tie-breaking, gaining an immediate mini-break, going 2-0 up. Polkinghorne broke back and the players changed ends all even at 3-3. Greg held for 4-3 and then attacked again but this time Polkinghorne held firm to get to 5-4. Greg's turn to hold serve - which he did well, to bring up match point at 6-5, but on Polkinghorne's serve. He duly got the mini-break to snare the tie-break 7-5, and win the match 6-1, 7-6(5).
A real test for Greg when things went a bit pear-shaped at the end of ththe second set, but he had played well up until then, and had the steely resolve to recover and win the match in straight sets.