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.
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.
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| 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.
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