Autumn in the States 2017 #4

Tiburon Peninsula

In the second round of qualifying for the Tiburon Challenger Greg had a tough draw, up against the No.1 qualifying seed, 29 year old American Tim Smyczek. Currently ranked 189.  Smyczek has been a top 100 player, with a singles high ranking of 68 achieved in 2015, so a tough match up for Greg. Smyczek leads the head to head 1-0, winning their only previous match in straight sets at the Tallahassee Challenger in 2013.
The first set was a close fought affair, with Greg serving at a high percentage, whilst Smyczek was winning all his second serves, dominating from the baseline. It was Smyczek who crafted the only break- point opportunity of the set, snaring the vital break and going on to win the first set 6-4. 

No. 1 seed Tim Smyczek

In the second set Smyczek applied even more pressure, and when Greg's first serve percentage dipped, he was able to break Greg twice. Smyczek held serve to go 5-1 up and then broke Greg a third time to run away with the second set 6-1, winning the match 6-4, 6-1.
A disappointing loss for Greg in a tough assignment. It will be back to the practise courts for another week until the next tournament.
Greg was due to play in the doubles qualifying with compatriot Matt Barton, who like Greg is on the come-back trail after a long time off with injury, but it was not to be as Barton strained a muscle in his leg and was unable to take to the court, gifting their opponents a walk-over.

Autumn in the States 2017 #3

Qualifying for the $100k Tiburon Challenger was the next stop for Greg. His opponent was another ex-USA college player, 25 year old Nick Chappel, currently ranked 904, with a high rank of 627 last year. He will be a stern test for Greg.
Serving first Greg was untroubled on serve, serving at a high percentage and only losing 5 points on his serve in the first set. He was also able to create opportunities on Chappel's serve, having four break opportunities but being unable to convert, games going with serve to 5-5. Greg held to lead 6-5, then once again brought up a break point opportunity on Chappel's serve, this time converting and finally breaking Chappel, to deservedly win the set 7-5,

The Tiburon Centre

The second set was in sharp contrast to the first. Again serving first Greg found himself facing double break-point at 15-40 in his first three service games. He saved in the first game, and repeated the effort in his second service game, to get to 2-1. But he could not repeat again in the third service game, dropping serve to trail 2-3, then 2-4. Chappel was now holding his serve quite easily so Greg needed to look after his own serve and be patient and put the pressure back on Chappell. Games went with serve to 4-5 Chappel leading with the break.

Nick Chappel

With Chappel serving for the set at 5-4 and 30-15 it looked like the match was heading for the third set but then Greg produced his best tennis, winning the next four points to break Chappel and level the set at 5-5.   
Both players held serve to get the set to the tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break Greg took the early advantage to break Chappel and lead 2-1, then held serve to get to 4-1. Chappel could not find a first serve, whilst Greg was serving well and Greg broke Chappel twice more to win the tie-break 7-1, the set 7-6 and the match 7-5, 7-6.
Greg was relieved and happy to get a win. He said he had generally played well and his body had felt good. It was a close match out of which Greg can take some confidence and now get some more valuable match court time.

Autumn in the States 2017 #2

Greg’s next tournament was the $15k Futures tournament hosted by the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club in California. Scheduled as one of the last Round 1 matches on, Greg was up against local American 26 year old Conor Berg, currently ranked 1031 with a high rank of 918, who has not played regularly on the Pro Circuit, having played mainly in the USA College competitions. Conor had come through qualifying to the main draw.
In the first set Greg held service but could not get a break on the serve of Berg, games going to the tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break it was Greg who gained the ascendancy and ran off with the set, winning the tie-break 7-1.
In the second set Greg, in the failing light of dusk, fell behind a break, to trail at 2-5. He managed to get the break back, and at 5-6, the lights were turned on. Greg said perhaps they should have stopped playing then, as the lights were not up to standard, but he had the momentum, having come back from 2-5, and they continued into the tie-break, Greg keen to finish the match. In the tie-break Greg had two match point opportunities, both on Berg’s serve, but Berg hit a good serve on the first point to deny Greg. Then on the second point Greg missed a waist high volley after working the point in a 15 shot rally. He was not too happy, especially when Berg ended up winning the tie-break 10-8, and the set 7-6, to take the match into a third set. And into another day - because play was suspended due to the poor lighting, with the match delicately poised at one set all.

Conor Berg

The next day it was back onto court to resume the Round 1 match, but only after a lengthy delay for rain. Greg said he did not play well in the third set, playing a poor game to go an early break-down. He rallied to get the break back, but then serving at 40-15 served a double fault, then made two errors and lost his serve again. He had a break-point opportunity the next game on Berg's serve, to get back on serve, but failed to convert. He was unable to break Berg again, with Berg winning the set 6-3, and a close fought match 6-7(1), 7-6(8), 6-3.
Greg was annoyed with the fact that he did not finish off the match on the first day, But it is only his second pro-tour match in almost six months, so will take some positives out of the match and work on the areas of his play that requires attention.

Autumn in the States 2017 #1

After what seems an eternity, with Greg last playing at the end of March, Greg was finally fit and injury free and ready to take the challenge that is the Men's professional tennis world tour. Multiple injuries - knee and wrist mainly, with a torn calf muscle thrown in (incurred whilst training), have kept Greg off the professional circuit and struggling to shake those injuries and get his fitness back up to the required level. His recovery has been a slow one, with injuries flaring up again but he has stuck to the task. He has spent the last five weeks hard at work, concentrating on his fitness levels and getting  quality hitting with whomever he could at Tennis Australia and Kooyong. He also had some match practise tennis whilst training, although at club level, playing for his club Kooyong and helping his team win the Pennant.

The Claremont Club

His first pro circuit tournament back was an entry level $15k ITF event in Claremont, California. Seeded No. 8, Greg was drawn against 25 year-old American John Lamble, who had a recent ranking high of 751. It was not the start to his come back that Greg would have desired, as his lack of match play showed in the first set, as he lost the set 3-6, but he quickly shrugged off the rustiness and fought back to win the second set 6-4. The third set was a close contest, but Greg just could not get the breakthrough, then dropped his serve at the death, to lose the set 5-7 and the match.

John Lamble

Greg said he had played well and felt good after the long match. He failed to take some opportunities and could have done with some luck during the match. Disappointing, but plenty of positives to take out of the match and to build on. His body feels good after rigours of a long match, so back on the court in the next tournament next week.