Australia in the Spring 2016 - Canberra #5

It was a very strong and gusty wind that was causing havoc with the tennis early afternoon in Canberra, as Greg took to court for the quarter-final round of the singles. He was up against another promising young Aussie teenager, 19 year-old Omar Jasika, ranked 390, off his impressive high ranking of 256 achieved last year. Jasika, who is also the winner of the US Open juniors title, struggled to find form in the early part of this year, but has recently achieved some good results, so is currently in good form and will be a real test for Greg, in his fifth match this week.

Omar Jasika - US Open Junior Champion

Both player's struggled to adapt to the gusty wind conditions initially and with Jasika serving first, Greg soon had Jasika in trouble, facing two break points in the first game. But Greg was unable to capitalise and Jasika held serve. He then had Greg facing three break points at 0-40. Greg responded and got back to deuce but Jasika kept the pressure on and broke Greg to lead 2-0. Greg tried to hit straight back but Jasika saved another break point in his second service game to get to a handy 3-0 lead. Greg held serve to get on the board and tried to break Jasika, but Jasika was up to the task, holding his serve to win the first set 6-3.


Omar Jasika in action at Canberra

Serving first in the second set, in the stiff wind, Greg was again under early pressure and Jasika broke Greg, then held serve to lead 2-0. Greg then did not serve a good game and Jasika took advantage, breaking him again to take a decisive lead in the match, to lead 3-0, then 4-0. Greg recovered some ground to get to 1-4, then took the attack to Jasika in an attenpt to get a break back but Jasika had the momentum and was able to hold, to force Greg to stay in the match. He brought up match points on Greg's serve. Greg saved the first but could not stop Jasika from winning the second set 6-1, and the match in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.A match too far for Greg, this fifth one. He was bitterly disappointed. He said the wind had been a factor and Jasika had played well, whilst it was not Greg's best performance. Still a good week for Greg, who won four matches, including a testing come-from behind qualifying match and two main draw matches against quality opponents, playing some of his best tennis in the second round.
Unfortunately due to the Friday match he will be unable to travel to Japan for the qualifying of the Kobe Challenger, so has elected to have a week off tennis to recover, and train, for the following week's tennis.