Australia in the Summer 2017 - #1

Greg's plan for a solid off-season of fitness and training to be in top shape for the Australian Summer of 2017 were dashed in just his second week of his schedule when he suffered a small tear in his calf muscle, which required rest and physiotherapy. He was restricted to doing upper body training and swimming laps for fitness, not ideal in the tennis playing world. He started light hitting in the week before Christmas and was advised not to play at full pace until the New Year. He started running and had a few hitting sessions with Alex Vucic and Matt Barton in the weeks after Christmas and New Year and then headed off to the qualifying for the ATP250 tournament in Auckland last Thursday. Greg had managed to get into the qualifying draw, which is now limited to just 16 players, due to a number of late withdrawals.

His opponent for the first round was up and coming 18 year-old American Michael Mmoh, already ranked an impressive 197 in the ATP rankings, seeded No.3 for the qualifying. Greg's match was the fourth match on, and the Auckland breeze was pumping by the time the took to court in mid afternoon. With Mmoh serving first Greg started well, forcing Mmoh to deuce in the first game but unable to bring up break point, and then holding serve to love to level the score at 1-1. But Greg's lack of match practise of court time was soon evident, Momh holding easily and then breaking Greg to love to go 4-1 up. He broke Greg a second time to lead 5-1 and then serving out the set to love, 6-1.

USA's Michael Momh

Serving first in the second set Greg got to 40-15 quickly, but then was pegged back by Mmoh to face a break point. This time Greg was up to the challenge and saved break point and held serve to lead 1-0. He then forced Mmoh to face two break points at 15-40, but an ace and a good first serve and point by Mmoh denied Greg and Mmoh levelled at 1-1. He then broke Greg to love, returning exceptionally well as Greg served four consecutive first serves, to take the advantage at 2-1. Momh had the bit between his teeth now and the match unravelled quick for a rusty Greg, Mmoh breaking him twice more, despite Greg serving at a high percentage, to run out a 6-1, 6-1 winner.
Not the best match for the New Year for Greg, who was not at his best and quite underdone for the occasion. Much hard work still to be done after yet another injury. At least he was able to say that his mind and body came through the match ok.
Young Mmoh went on the qualify for the main draw of the tournament, beating former top twenty player Jersy Janowitz, also on the come-back trail after injury, in straight sets.
A brief Wikipedia overview:
"Michael Mmoh is a Saudi Arabian-born American tennis player of Irish and Nigerian ancestry. Mmoh is the reigning USTA junior national champion. He has won 1 ATP Challenger title and 4 ITF Futures tournaments, including his first at the age of 16."