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.