Australia in the Summer 2017 - Burnie #1

After Auckland it was back to improving his fitness and constructive hitting for Greg. He also helped with some hitting with old friend, Brit Naomi Broady, who was playing in the Australian Open. Then it was off to the first of two Challenger tournaments in Tasmania, the first in Burnie, which had been the scene of two finals appearances for Greg, which must seem a lifetime ago for him, at least ten years on. This time though he was in the qualifying, not the Main Draw, so had some weekend work to get through.
Seeded No. 4, Greg first round opponent was 26 year old American Patrick Duriek, currently ranked 995 in singles. Serving first Greg got off to a good start, holding serve and breaking Duriek to get out to a 3-0 lead. Some good serving saw him carry his advantage through the set without giving a break point opportunity to the American, and winning the first set 6-3.
More good serving saw the score quickly get to 2-2 in the second set, then out of the blue, with Duriek serving at 30-0, Greg reeled off 8 points in a row to break Duriek and hold serve to love, to go a handy 4-2 up. He repeated the dose, again breaking Duriek to serve for the match at 5-2. A love game ensued for Greg to run out a 6-3, 6-2 winner.
First win of the year under the belt for Greg, which will help his confidence and give him more match practise, with the second round to be played on the same day. Not sure why...
His second round match was against a promising Australian teenager, 19 year-old Jake Delaney, already ranked a respectable 850 in the singles. With Delaney serving first, Greg again got off to a good start, breakin Delaney in the first game and holding to love to go 2-0 up. But Delaney hit back, holding serve and then breaking Greg to get back level at 2-2. With both serves dominating, games went with serve to the tie-breaker at 6-6. Greg was first to get an advantage, getting a mini-break on the first point, then serving only first serves in the tie-break, to effectively shut out Delaney and go 5-2 up. He then won the next two Delaney serves to pouch the tie-break 7-2, and the first set 7-6.
Serving first in the second set, Greg's serve percentage dropped, but he was still able to hold serve, then broke Delaney to go 3-1 up. Delaney fought back, getting Greg to deuce in the next game and forcing Greg to save two break-points, before Greg held dfor a 4-1 lead. At 5-2 up, Greg brought up match point on Delaney's serve but Delaney held firm, getting to 5-3 and forcing Greg to serve for the match. Which he did, winning the game to 15, to win the set 6-3 and a keenly contested match 7-6(2), 6-3.
Greg said he was pleased with getting two matches, with two wins under his belt.