Back in Oz - Spring 2017

During the Las Vegas tournament Greg had experienced pain in his lower ribs area whilst serving, so he decided not to rush back to Australia for the Traralgon Challenger. The time change coupled with travel times would have meant he arrived in Melbourne on Friday, would have to get home, then drive to Traralgon, have a late afternoon hit to adjust to different court and ball conditions, all whilst jet-lagged, then try and recover before playing in qualifying on Saturday morning. If he won that match he most probably would have to play a second matches on that day, due to the Tennis Australia policy, (unlike most of the other countries of the world), of playing two qualifying rounds on one day. In the other Challenger tournaments they play on three consecutive days. By insisting they play two qualifying matches on one day, Tennis Australia show a distinct lack of respect for the qualifying players and have little appreciation or care for the demands the matches have on a player's body. Little wonder the Australian players have a litany of injuries during their fledgling years, which they carry on into careers.
Greg rather chose to give his ribs a rest and stayed in Las Vegas an extra couple of days to take in a show, a Michael Jackson tribute which he said was outstanding and then helped Sam Groth celebrate his 30th  birthday, the two players having known each other since they were young teenagers. He then returned to LA and stayed with good friend Carsten Ball, catching up on lost time before returning on his scheduled flight back to Melbourne.
Refreshed and after a couple of training sessions at Kooyong and Melbourne Park, with no problem with his ribs, Greg then went to Canberra for the qualifying of the next Challenger tournament. Seeded 7, his opponent was 23 year old Australian Alexander Babanine, currently ranked 1761. However, Greg had another problem - a pain below his right knee, at the bottom of his tendon, which had become inflamed after his econd practise session in Melbourne. Greg had the knee taped by the physio and hoped that it would not restrict his movement or get any worse.

Alex Babanine

Serving first, four first serves in the first game by Greg, on a fast hard court surface, saw Greg start the match confidently, and he quickly moved to 2-1 up. On the back of two close line calls that went his way, when Babanine hit two consecutive shots long, Greg then broke Babanine to lead 3-1. Greg was serving well, hitting six aces and winning all his first serves in the first set, as well as playing some sublime volleys and forehand winners, and he served out the set 6-3.
The second set, with Babanine serving first, saw services dominate and there was only one deuce game in the score getting to 5-5. However Greg was being hampered by a worsening knee problem, and was moving less well, at times limping, and his service action was being compromised, as he favoured his right knee and his left leg was taking all the weight of the serve. At 5-6 down, serving to stay in the set, and at 40-15 looking like he was going to take the set to the tie-break, he failed to convert the game, losing four points in a row on the back of four second serve and dropped the set 5-7, the match tied a one set all.

Greg hitting rather tentatively

With Babanine serving first in the third set, games went with serve to 2-1. Then an evidently struggling Greg took an injury time out. There was not much he could do about his knee but he needed attention on his other leg due to the strain he was placing on that leg. He came out and served an ace, but was then pegged back to face break point. Another two good serves saved the break point and brought up game point in his favour, but he was again pegged back to deuce and then broken to trail 1-3. With new balls Babanine consolidated and stretched the lead to 4-1. Greg contemplated withdrawing but struggled on, trying to keep the points short, trying to win the match on one leg. And he played some great tennis to hold serve and then forced Babanine to break point and broke back to give himself a chance at 3-4. But his movement was too impeded and Babanine played steady tennis, forcing Greg to move around the court and then broke Greg again to serve for the match at 5-3. He then served out the match, much to his delight, to win the set 6-3, and a tight match 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Greg was extremely frustrated by the match, the circumstances and the result. He had played good tennis but was hampered by his injury. Tennis at the professional level demands a fully functioning body, operating at maximum capacity, even in qualifying and whilst Greg had almost won the match playing virtually with one good leg, it would have been pointless as he still had to win another two matches to qualify, one of which he would have had to play two hours later.
Greg had planned to travel to Japan to play in the Challenger tournament next week but now will take more time off to try and recover, and to contemplate his way forward from here. That will be his last match for this somewhat traumatic year, which has been full of injuries, much recovery time and a lot of very close matches, many of which have not gone his way unfortunately.

Autumn in the States 2017 #9

UNLV Tennis Centre

Greg extended his stay in Las Vegas when he and compatriot Matt Barton made it into the main draw for the doubles. Their draw however was not so lucky, as they drew the No. 2 seeds, Greg's good mate Jarryd Chaplin and partner Latvian Mikelis Libietis. Both 25 years old Chaplin and Libietis were both on the same US College tennis team and now on the Pro-circuit are ranked 178 and 189 respectively in the doubles. Greg and Matt know Jarryd from junior squad days, so it will be an interesting match.
On the slick fast Las Vegas hard courts serves dominated and neither side offered up a single break point opportunity, even in the sudden death format. Matt and Greg were serving at a high first serve percentage and held serve easily but could not make any inroads into their opponents services, games going with serve to the tie-break at 6-6.

Aussie Jarryd Chaplin

Matt and Greg broke first point but were pegged back immediately, to get to 2-1 on serve. They then pouched both of their opponents serves to take a handy double break 4-1 lead. But their opponents hit back immediately to change ends only 1 break down at 4-2. Greg held serve to extend their lead to 5-2. Another break would give them set point but their opponents held both of their serves to put the pressure on Matt to serve out the tie-break at 5-4. But it was not to be, as Chaplin and Libietis won both of his serves to get to set point at 6-5, and then won their serve to steal the tie-break 7-5, and the first set 7-6.

Latvian Mikelis Libietis

Greg and Matt started the set well, as did their opponents, games again going to 2-2. Then suddenly some good returns saw Greg facing three break points, and was broken to hand the advantage to their opponents. In their next service game it was Matt who was broken, to trail 2-5. The end of the match came in a hurry, as their opponents, with the momentum behind them, served out the set 6-2, to win the match 7-6(5), 6-2.
A disappointing result for Greg and Matt, but their relative lack of playing doubles together told in the end and their more experienced opponents were able capitalise when the pressure was on.

Autumn in the States 2017 #8

Las Vegas was the next stop for Greg, again in qualifying for the Challenger tournament. His opponent was a formidable opponent and friend, Denmark's Frederick Nielsen. The 34 year-old Danish player had a chequered career, never quite realising his full potential in singles but achieving the amazing feat in the doubles by winning a Grand Slam doubles title. At Wimbledon in 2012, teamed with Brit Jonathan Marray, after having played together only three times previously, the pair became the first wildcard pairing to win the title. Following that success, Nielsen decided to continue his career concentrating on singles. Currently ranked 556, with a singles high ranking of 190 and a doubles high ranking of an impressive 17, the former Hopman Cup player, plays hot and cold and Greg will be hoping he is in cold mode for today's match. Nielsen won their only other previous meeting at Tiburon in straight sets, way back in 2012.

Frank &Vicki Fertitta Complex - UNLV

Nielsen had the advantage of serving first in the match and the two players swopped break of serve in getting to 5-5. Despite Greg serving at 72 percent first serves, Nielsen was returning well and forced Greg to face five break points up to that stage, and Greg had saved four of those and had pouched the only opportunity he had on Nielsen's serve. Nielsen then held again to lead 6-5 and force Greg to serve to stay in the set. He got Greg to 15-40. Greg managed to save the first set point but was unable to prevent Nielsen from breaking and winning the set 6-5.
Greg continued his high percentage serving in the second set, and despite Nielsen breaking him once, he also broke Nielsen, to get to 4-4, then served to lead 5-4. Just as Nielsen had done in the first set, Greg was able to put the pressure on Nielsen, serving to stay in the set, bringing up break point and converting to win the second set 6-4 and take the match to the third set.

Dane Freddie Nielsen

The third set was a keenly and close fought set, Greg again serving well. Both players conceded one break of serve, each saving two out of three break point opportunities, taking the match to 5-5. Greg then held to lead set 6-5. Two close line calls which went the way of Nielsen, saw Nielsen serving at 30-0, instead of at 0-30 and he continued on to tie the set up and take it into the tie-break at 6-6. Serving first it was Greg who had to face set point first, actually a match point to Nielsen, on serve with Nielsen serving. Greg saved the match point to change end at 6-6. Nielsen then hit a freakish squash-like forehand winner, to break Greg and bring up a second match point at 7-6. He served out the tie-break to win the set 7-6 and an agonisingly close match 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (6).
It was a match in which Greg had maintained a consistent high level of serving and had competed well, just not having the luck at the end to snare the win. He was pleased with his effort and level if tennis but was disappointed at the final result, having done little to lose the match.

Autumn in the States 2017 #7

The second round of qualifying for the  Challenger tournament in Fairfield saw Greg up against 27 year-old Brit Alexander Ward, currently ranked 408, but with a high rank of 242 attained in June 2016. Like Greg, Alex is trying to get back to his previous level of tennis and is in good form, knocking off the No. 4 seed in the opening round of qualifying. This will be their first match against each other on the Pro-circuit.
Both players struggled with serve in the first set, and in a topsy-turvy set both players were able to break each other. It was Ward who had the better of the exchanges, forcing Greg to face 7 break points in the first set, Greg managing to save three of those points, but it was not all one-way traffic. Greg managed to break Ward twice in the set, but Ward ended up winning the set 6-3. 

Brit Alex Ward

Greg served better in the second set, and the players exchanged break of serves. But Ward then broke Greg a second time to go on to win the set 6-4, and the match 6-3, 6-4.
Not a good follow up match for Greg, who could not replicate the way he finished off his previous match.
Footnote: it was Alex Ward who last week found Greg's wallet down the side of a lounge chair, after Greg had mislaid his wallet which was missing for almost a week. Luckily due to the CBA and modern technology Greg did not have to cancel his cards, just checked that no-one had use of them, them locked and limited access to the cards. Lucky Greg that he gave Alex a lift and Alex just happened to wander into the lounge room at the house whilst waiting for Greg.

Autumn in the States 2017 #6

 It was off to Fairfield this weekend for the qualifying for the next Challenger tournament. Greg's first round opponent was 22 year-old Mexican Lucas Gomez, currently ranked 904, with a high ranking of 463 achieved in April 2016. After a run of losses Greg will be keen to perform well and hopefully get another win under his belt.



Fairfield Rancho Salerno centre

Both players showed sign of nerves at the start, Greg dropping his first service games to give Gomez an immediate advantage, only for Greg to immediately break back to level the score at 1-1. They both then settled down and games went with serve to 3-3. Greg was serving erratically with numerous aces, countered by double faults, and Gomez forced Greg to break point, only to have Greg serve another ace to deny Gomez the break, then wrapped up the game with another ace. Crisis averted, games went with serve to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg served well in the tie-break, whilst Gomez struggled to find his first serve and it was Greg who took the advantage at 3-2 up, breaking Gomez twice to go to a 5-2 lead, then serve out the tie-break 7-2, to pouch the first set 7-6.


Mexican Lucas Gomez

Greg was quick out of the blocks in the second set, breaking Gomez first game. But in a mirror of the first set, this time it was Gomez who fought back to break back and level at 1-1. Greg rallied and had Gomez at 0-40, but Gomez denied him all three break point opportunities with three good first serves to go 2-1 up. At 3-2 up Gomez broke Greg to lead 4-2, then ran away with the set, holding serve and then breaking Greg again, to win the set 6-2, and take the match into the third set.Gomez now had the momentum, despite Greg serving 19 aces, but with 10 double faults, and Greg had battle on his hands. But Greg was not going away. He immediately forced Gomez to save a break-point in the first set to get to 1-0. Greg and Gomez then held serve comfortably, games going to 4-3 with no further break point opportunities or deuces. Greg then lost the first two points of his serve to trail 0-30, but rallied to pull back, winning the game with another ace, to get to 4-4. He then upped the pressure on Gomez, forcing Gomez to 0-40, and converting the first break-point opportunity to take a critical 5-4 lead, and serve for the match. He did so to love, winning the last 12 points of the set, to win the match 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-4.
Greg said it took him the first set to adjust to the quick pace of the Fairfield courts, then played a good tie-break. He should have put away the match at the start of the second set, but played patchily for the set. He slowly got back into the groove at the start of the third set, and finished very strongly at the end. It was good to win a close match and his body felt great after the match. Hopefully he can replicate that good finish in the second round match.

Autumn in the States 2017 #5

The next Challenger tournament on the calendar took Greg to Stockton in California. Playing in qualifying he did not get the best of draws, but still a winnable match, up against his peer, 28 year old Colombian Alejandro Gonzalez. Not as successful in the Juniors as Greg, Gonzalez had since been a consistent performer and had successfully made the transition to the ATP tour, attaining a top 100 ranking, with a ranking high of 70 attained in June 2014. However, since mid 2015 Gonzalez's tennis has been in slow decline and this year his ranking has slipped to a current low of 460. Now on the come-back trail he was required to play qualifying and will be a tough match for Greg. 

Eve Zimmerman Tennis Centre

Serving first, Greg was quickly into the first game but Gonzalez pegged him back to deuce and forced Greg to save break point to hold serve. Greg again had game points in his second service game, but was again forced to deuce and then had to save two break points, to get the score to 2-1. He then forced Gonzalez to face a break point, but Gonzalez denied Greg, games going to 2-2. But Greg was serving at below 50% and Gonzalez was attacking his second serve, this time breaking Greg on the second opportunity to go a break up, then hold serve to consolidate his lead at 4-2. Greg was again under the pump in his next service game, and saved multiple break points, but could not win two points in a row, eventually being broken after saving five break points, to trail 2-5. Gonzalez  served out the next game to win the set 6-2.

Colombian Alejandro Gonzalez

The first game of the second set saw Gonzalez maintain his momentum, getting Greg to 15-40, Fighting back Greg got the game back to deuce but could not create a game point, and lost his serve to trail 0-1, then 0-2 as Gonzalez  held serve confidently. The third game was another marathon game for Greg, as he saved 8 break points and had multiple deuces, but again could not get the vital game point, dropping serve again, to go 0-3 down. He could not make any in-roads on Gonzalez serve, with Gonzalez running away with the set at the end, to win the set 6-0, and the match with a lop-sided score-line of 6-2, 6-0.
Greg said he had not played badly, his serve improving throughout the match, and that the score did not reflect the match, nor his effort in saving a mammoth 17 break-points, but still not making any headway in the match. He said the match was a strange one with no tournament atmosphere at all - it was the last match on late in the day, they had no ball boys and the only spectator was Gonzalez's coach.