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.