USA Campaign 2010 - Update #8

In Tallahasse, Florida, this week for the $50k Challenger which featured a very strong line-up, Greg was unseeded and had a fortunate draw for the 1st round, up against qualifier 23 year-old Brit Jamie Baker, currently ranked 282, high rank of 211.
After a days delay for rain, Greg said he did not start well, having difficulty in adjusting from playing at high altitude in Mexico, and missed a lot of 1st serves and returns, dropping his serve twice in losing the 1st set 6-2 to Baker.
He re-focussed in the 2nd set and worked his way back, making a lot more quality returns and breaking Baker twice to overturn the score-line and win the 2nd set 6-2. One set all.
In the 3rd set Greg said he was in control most of the set, having break point opportunities on two of Baker's service games, then converting the 3rd opportunity to take a decisive lead and serve out the match confidently, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Greg said it was a longish, tiring match as Baker made him play a lot of balls.
He played his 2nd round round later in the day.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #7

27 year old Mexican Santiago Gonzalez was Greg's semi-final opponent in the Challenger tournament in Leon. No doubt very experienced at altitude, Gonzalez is currently ranked 216 but boasts a high ranking of 155.
In another very close match it was Gonzalez who, serving first, managed to put the pressure on Greg and break his serve, winning the first set 6-4.
The second set went all the way to the tie-break at 6-6. Greg had a set point at 6-5, but on Gonzalez serve, and Gonzalez saved that point and brought up his own set point (and match point) at 7-6, breaking Greg to win the match 6-4, 7-6(6).
A disappointing end to a good tournament. Greg has shown though that he can match it with the players at this level.
Greg now travels to Tallahasee for another Challenger tournament next week.
Santiago Gonzalez went on to win the tournament.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #6

Quarterfinals of the singles in Leon saw No. 2 seed Greg up against the 5th seed, 26 year-old American Lester Cook, currently ranked 236, with a high rank of 207.
Greg got off to a flying start, breaking Cook early to go 3-1 up. A few loose points from Greg saw Cook break back and then hold serve to level at 3-3. He then broke Greg again at 4-4 to go 5-4 up. Greg said he did not play well in losing the 1st set 4-6.
Greg responded in the 2nd set, serving much better and holding serve easily. He had some half-chances on Cook's serve but could not convert, games going to 3-3. Greg then held serve in an easy game before breaking Cook to go 5-3 up. Greg then served out the set 6-3, to tie the match at 1 set all.
At that point Cook retired from the match telling Greg he had a groin injury and did not want to aggravate it any further.
So Greg through to the semi-finals of his 2nd Challenger this year.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #5

The second round of the doubles in the Leon Challenger was a quick affair. Up against the No. 2 seeded Australian pairing of Kaden Hensel and Adam Hubble, Greg and partner Ruben Statham could not match the intensity of the well-tuned long-standing doubles pair, losing 6-1, 6-2.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #4

A long hard day beckoned for Greg as he first faced an old adversary, fellow Australian 20 year-old Brydan Klein, in the singles and then teamed with Kiwi mate Ruben Statham in a doubles match against a local Mexican pairing. Klein's ranking has dropped to 442 from a high of 174 last year after a 4 month suspension late last year, but he will be confident against Greg, having a 3-1 head-to-head record in the Men's matches and a similar record in the Juniors.

And what a tussle it was. The 1st set was an arm wrestle, Greg going a break up but Klein breaking back to level and eventually  take the set to the tie-break, with Greg getting ahead and then just edging Klein 7-5, to win the set 7-6.
The 2nd set saw Greg serving big and holding easily, games going with serve to 4-3 Greg up when Greg broke Klein to go 5-3 up and serve for the match. At 40-30 he had match point but Klein saved and then saved another 3 match points before breaking Greg to get back to 4-5. Klein held serve and levelled at 5-5, games again going to the tie-break at 6-6.
With points see-sawing to 5-5, Klein had set point at 6-5 up. Two big serves from Greg snuffed out the set point chance and brought up match point again. With Klein serving Greg scrambled two returns back before hitting a lob over Klein's backhand which Klein bounced back and Greg was able to hit a cross court winner, winning the tie-break 8-6 and the match in two tie-break sets, 7-6(5), 7-6(6)

Greg was extremely pleased with the result, especially as he was on anti-biotics for a sinus infection, and that he was 4 and 0 for tie-breaks in two matches in this tournament.

The doubles match, against Juan-Manuel Elizondo and young Cesar Ramirez, was another close affair, with the 1st set being decided in another tie-break, 7-2 to Greg and Rubin and the 2nd set falling to them 6-4, for a straight sets win.

Greg has a break from the singles tomorrow but is scheduled to play their 2nd round doubles match.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #3

Mexico was the venue for Greg's next tournament, the "Abierto Internacional del Bicentenario" Challenger in Leon, at altitude on hard court.
Greg's opponent was qualifier 31 year-old Victor Romero, currently ranked 653, but with a wealth of experience playing at altitude, with depressurised balls which fly off the racket and have a different bounce.
It was a very close match with Greg edging Romero 7-5 in the 1st set tie-break and then again going to the tie-break in the 2nd set, this time winning it a bit more easily at 7-2, winning the match 7-6, 7-6.
A difficult 1st match for Greg who is suffering from infected sinuses and the heat. And it won't be any easier tomorrow with Greg scheduled for both singles and doubles.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #2

The second round of qualifying in the ATP tournament in Houston saw Greg up against compatriot, 21 year-old Nick Lindahl from NSW. Currently at a ranking high of 228 Lindahl is obviously in good form.
Greg did not serve as well as he would have liked in the 1st set and Lindahl, with a consistent game well suited to clay, took full advantage, breaking Greg's serve three times to win the first set 6-0.
Greg faired a lot better in the 2nd set but was not able to deny Lindahl, giving up another break of serve to lose the 2nd set 6-4 and the match 6-0, 6-4.
Greg will spend the next week training before heading to Leon in Mexico for a Challenger Tournament the following week.

USA Campaign 2010 - Update #1

Happy Easter to all.

After three weeks of chilling out and training in Sydney, then Melbourne, Greg headed off to the USA, first stop Houston, to play in the qualifying of an ATP event, the US Clay Court Championships, at River Oaks Country Club (left). Seeded No. 8 in the qualifying Greg played against 33 year old German Frank Moser, currently ranked 953, but with a wealth of experience after a long, but not illustrious, career.

It was a tight first set going all the way to the tie-break, with Greg just edging Moser 7-4 in the tie-break to pouch the 1st set 7-6. After that it was one way traffic with Greg dominating the 2nd set to win the set 6-1 and the match to advance to the 2nd round of qualifying.

He plays again on Sunday, Monday morning Sydney time.