Grass Season - Manta on Hard #6

Facing Greg in the final of the Manta Challenger was the No.1 seed, 35 year-old Michael Russell from the USA, currently ranked 95, with a high rank of 60. A fifteen year veteran of the Pro-circuit, diminutive Russell makes up for his lack of stature and big serve with accurate, never miss consistency and tremendous court coverage, with superb fitness. A winner of 12 titles on the Challenger circuit, the experienced Russell will be tough nut to crack in the twilight of his career.

In front of a large festive Saturday night crowd on a warm evening Russell served first and, after holding serve, he took advantage of a nervous game from Greg to break, and then take the score to 3-0, then 4-1. Greg started to lose his stiffness and nerves and started serving better, holding for 4-2 then getting Russell  to deuce, bringing up break-point and converting to get back on serve at 4-3. He reeled off his next service game to love then set about breaking Russell again to go to 5-3 up. He stepped up and served out the set, having won 5 games in a row to recover from 1-4 down to win the first set 6-4.

Greg in action

Then the wheels literally fell off for Greg. Three unforced errors gifted Russell  the first game, then a bad service game and more unforced errors and a double fault saw Russell break Greg to lead 2-0. Greg forced Russell  to save a break point in the next game but could not prevent Russell holding serve to lead 3-0, then break Greg again, with Greg serving at below 50%, to lead 4-0, then 5-0. Russell then broke Greg again to deliver a 6-0 bagel to win the second set, and level the match at 1 set all. A poor set by Greg and time for him to re-focus.

The festive local crowd at the centre

A toilet break and change of his sweaty clothes gave him time to regather and he came out firing again in the third set, holding his serve to love to get to 1-1. He then forced Russell  to 0-40 to give himself three break points. Unfortunately Russell responded with some good serving and plays, saving those points, winning 5 points in a row to hold serve for 2-1. He then had to save a breakpoint on his own swrve to get to 2-2, games then going with some top quality tennis to 5-4, Russell leading. In a marathon 10th game of the set, Russell brought up match point twice on Greg's serve and each time Greg fought back and denied Russell, eventually winning the game after six deuces to level at 5-5. Then it was Greg's turn to have break points to go ahead, but with Greg having played a great point and hit a cross court forward and followed the ball in after what looked like a winner, Russell got across out wide and at full stretch hit a running forehand passing shot which curled past a lunging Greg and was never in until it hit the court in the corner, to deny Greg the break - a virtual match winner. Russell then held serve to got 6-5 up.

Champion Michael Russell with the spoils

Then, despite Greg serving well, Russell  returned equally as well to get Greg to 15-40 and bring up consecutive match points and converted the first opportunity to win the set 7-5 and a well contested match 4-6, 6-0, 7-5.

Greg was obviously disappointed. He had outplayed Russell a the end of the first set, then did not go on with the job as he lost concentration and intensity in the second set. He was able to recoup and more than matched Russell in the 3rd set but some fantastic shot-making by the veteran, with a modicum of luck, at the business end of the match saw the pendulum swing Russell's way, to get the win and deny Greg his first Challenger title.

Nevertheless, it was a good week for Jonesie, who was unseeded in the draw and had played well enough through the week to reach the final, gaining a crucial 48 points, which will see him back under 300, around 250, in the ATP ranking and give him a shot at getting into qualifying for the US Open.

Grass Season - Manta on Hard #5

Semi-final day in Manta, Ecuador and Greg was scheduled second match on against the No.4 seed, young 20 year-old Argentinian Facunda Arguello. A top 10 ranked Junior player, Arguello had a high ranking of 164 last month, so is in good form but is best suited to clay court surfaces and Greg will fancy his chances against him.

Serving first Greg was on fire to start the match, holding serve to love, then breaking Arguello in the Argentinian's first service game to lead 3-0. Greg then was forced to save a break-point on his own serve to consolidate the break at 3-0, then broke Arguello again for a double break 4-0 lead. Greg held for 5-0, then 5-1, before serving out the set 6-1.


Greg serve volleying

Greg then lost focus and intensity, starting the second set with three unforced errors on Arguello's serve an following up with a poorservice game with two consecutiv double faults to hand Arguello a 2-0 lead and a lifeline back into the match. Greg's could not get back into his first set form and quickly found himself 4-1 down. Arguello took advantage of some more poor serving by Greg and got asecond break to lead 5-1, easily serving out the set 6-1, to mirror the first set score and level the  match at one set all.

After a toilet break and change of his sweaty shirt on a 27 degree celcius evening, it was a more focussed Greg who took to court for the third set, although still not back at his first set insensity. He struggled to find a first serve, at 50% level, but still managed to get to 2-1 with some good all-court tennis, coming into the net frequently to win the point. 

Argentinian Facunda Arguella


He then upped the ante and forced Arguello to face two break-points, converting the first to take an critical 3-1 lead. He consolidated the break with a love game, but still only one first serve, to lead 4-1. Arguello fought back, aided by some uncharacteristic errors by Greg to get to 2-4, then breaking Greg to get back on serve at 3-4.
In the next game, at 30-15 Arguello thought he had hit an ace to go to 40-15, but the serve was called out and Arguello remonstrated with the umpire. Greg won the point then brought up breakpoint, converting to go a break up again at 5-3. Arguello was not pleased, snapping his racquet in half on the ground. Greg then stepped up to crucially serve out the match. He lost the first point but came good to win the game and the set, winning  a very topsy-turvey match 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
Greg had played well in the first set but had not enforced his superiority or advantage, allowing Arguello back into the match, to regain confidence and once again put pressure on Greg. But Greg came through to reach the fifth Challenger final of his career. Let's hope he can win his first title tomorrow.

Grass Season - Manta on Hard #4

In the quarter-final round of the Manta Challenger, Greg's opponent was another up and coming ex-junior player, 21 year-old Andreas Collarini of Argentina. Born in New York and currently residing in Boca Rotan, Collarini had moved from NY to Argentina with his parents at the age of 3, where he grew up. His junior career has very similar to Greg's, having attained a top rank of 5 and been a finalist at the French Open. Due to this Collarini had been wooed by the USA to play under their banner and for awhile he was trained and coached by the USTA but has now reverted back to representing Argentina. Lower ranked in the ATP at 355 than his junior stats suggest, Collarini will be a dangerous player for Greg to play.

Greg served first and held, as did Collarini, games going to 3-3 with both players serving well. Then from 40-15 up Greg lost four points in a row to lose his serve, for Collarini to lead 4-3, then 5-3. Greg held for 5-4 but could not break Collarini, who pouched the first set 6-4.

Greg in action in the QF round

Both players held serve to start the second set, then Collarini forced Greg to 30-40, converting the opportunity to take a critical advantage at 2-1. He consolidated the break at 3-1, and with both players serving well games went quickly with mainly love games to 5-4, Collarini still leading. Greg had desperately tried to make inroads into Collarini's serve but he just served too well. With Collarini serving for the match at 5-4 Greg kept the pressure on and Collarini buckled, Greg forcing him to 0-40 to have three break points. Collarini saved one point but was unable to stop Greg breaking and Greg was back in the match at 5-5.

Argentinian Andreas Collarini

Greg still had work to do and Collarini hit back hard, forcing Greg to face break point. This time Greg saved and held serve to go up 6-5. Collarini held serve to take the set into a tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break Greg got an early break and although Collarini got the break back Greg broke again to lead 4-2 at the change of ends, then held the lead all the way to win the tie-break 7-3, and the set 7-6 to level the match at a set all.
Greg immediately pressed Collarini in the third set and had him defending break-points at 15-40 in the first game. Collarini got it back to deuce twice before Greg broke to lead 1-0. Collarini tried his best to get the break back but Greg was now playing with confidence and serving well, games going to 4-2. Greg said that he could see Collarini's head drop and he took advantage, breaking Collarini again to lead 5-2 and serve for the match, bringing up three match points. Collarini kept fighting though, saving two points but in the end Greg converted, winning the thirrd set 6-2, and a hard fought match 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, to progress to the semi-final round.
It was an intense match in which Greg never gave back, showing fighting qualities to turn it around and then go on with the win. He served well throughout at 67% first serves, with 12 aces and 4 double faults, winning 80% of his first serves.

Grass Season - Manta on Hard #3

The Howard Johnson Manta Hotel

Having beaten a seeded player in the 1st round, Greg now faced an unseeded player in Manta. His opposition was wild card recipient Ecuadorian Roberto Quiroz, aged 21 and currently ranked 732. A kind draw for Greg, but the six foot six left-handed Ecuadorian could be a dangerous opponent if Greg does not maintain his focus and intensity. Quiroz, whose low ranking does not reflect his talent as he has not played a lot of tournaments on tour due to him being at College in Southern California, was a top ten ITF Junior player and won both the French Open and US Open Junior Doubles titles in 2010. A tough challenge for Greg.


Greg playing in Manta

Serving first it was a slow start for Greg, who could not find many first serves but managed to get to 2-2 against Quiroz, who was serving well. Then Greg lost concentration and was facing three break-points at 0-40. He re-focused, hit five unreturnable first serves and managed to squeak out of that game, the score progressing to 4-3. Greg then brought up his first break-point opportunity against Quiroz and converted to lead 5-3 and serve for the set. Quiroz hit back, breaking Greg to get back on serve at 5-4. But Greg was determined and broke straight back again, on his 2nd set point, to win the first set 6-4.

USC player Roberto Quiroz

With the first set under wraps Greg relaxed and served very well in the 2nd set, as did Quiroz. Greg lost only two points on his serve in the set, games going with serve to 4-4. Greg held to love for 5-4, then set about breaking Quiroz, making Quiroz play a lot of shots and pegging him back to deuce. Greg then brought up match point, converting to win the set 6-4, and the match 6-4, 6-4.
A nervous start for Greg in that match but once he shook the nerves he served well to take control of the match and advance to the quarter-final round.
He was joined in the QF round by his travel mate and doubles partner Greg Ouellette who provided an upset in beating the 7th seed Canadian Peter Polansky in three sets.

Grass Season - Manta on Hard #2

In the first round of the singles in the Manta Challenger in Ecuador, with the cut for the entry at a low 414, Greg did not get the best of draws, up against the No. 5 seed 31 year-old Brazilian Thiago Alves, currently ranked 202, with a high ranking of 88 in July 2009. Ostensibly a clay court player, five foot ten Alves is most probably the best of the seeds for Greg to play, and will be an opportunity for Greg to knock off.

View from Greg's Hotel

Serving first Greg held easily and then at 2-1 up brought up break points three times before converting to lead 3-1, consolidating to go 4-1 up. Thiago wasnot done and hit back, holding serve and then breaking Greg to love in the seventh game to get back on serve at 3-4. Greg reponded and immediately had Thiago facing break-points at 15-40. Greg converted to lead 5-3 and then served out the set 6-3.

Greg playing at Manta

Greg was straight into Alves' serve in the second set, forcing him to face break points at 15-40 in the first service game. Alves was up to the task winning the next four points to deny Greg and hold serve, games going with serve to 2-2, despite Greg serving at below 50%. Greg then upped the ante, returning well and serving well, breaking Alvesto lead 3-2, then 4-2. He repeated the dose to again break Alves to go to 5-2, winning five games in a row to win the set 6-2, and the match 6-3, 6-2.

Brazilian Thiago Alves

A competent display by Greg, whose serve stats were ok and his return game was good, to advance to the second round.
The web-site, translated from Spanish, had this to say about the game, "The surprise of the day was the Australian Greg Jones (314 ATP) who managed it to overcome in two sets 6-3, 6-2  Brazil's Thiago Alves (202), fifth seed. Alves,the winner of this tournament in 2005 and 2006, now falls in the initial round. Jones based his game on serve and volley, trying to keep at the back of the Court his rival and take his first service, reaching 8 aces and 3 double faults."

Grass Season - Manta on Hard #1

Greg's first assignment in the Manta Challenger tournament in Ecuador was the doubles, partnering with his travel mate and good friend Greg Ouellette. They were up against the No.4 seeds, Colombians 24 year-old Alejandro Gonzalez and 30 year-old Carlos Salamanca, currently ranked 280 and 361 respectively and both with much higher singles rankings. A challenge for the "Greg's" and a very winnable match.
With Jonesie serving first it was the "Gregs" who got the early break to lead 3-1, then 4-1. The Colombians hit back winning 3 games in a row and breaking back to level the score at 4-4. The "Gregs" stopped that streak and took the score to 6-5. They put the pressure on the Colombians and broke them to win the set 7-5.

Alejandro Gonzalez

The first three games of the second set all went to sudden-death deuce but this time it was the Colombian who had the luck, winning all three games, breaking the "Gregs" twice to lead 3-0. The "Gregs" broke back to get to 3-1, then held serve for 3-2. The Colombians then saved another break-point in denying the "Gregs" drawing level to go 4-2, then 5-2 up. They then broke the "Gregs" again, this time on Ouellette's serve to win the second set 6-2, and take the match into the match tie-break (first to 10).

Veteran Carlos Salamanca

The Colombians held serve and then were the first to get a mini-break, but the "Gregs" broke back immediately and then crafted a mini-break of theire own to lead 4-3. Unfortunately Jonesie double faulted and handed the break back, points going with serve to 7-8, in favour of the Colombians. The "Gregs" lost the next point on their serve to give the Colombians two match point at 7-9. Jonesie saved one point on his serve to trail 8-9 and then they again denied the Colombians, this time on the Colombians serve, to level at 9-9. The Colombians held serve to bring up their 3rd match point, but on Greg Ouellettes serve but this time the "Gregs" could not deny the Colombians, dropping the point to lose the tie-break 11-9.
Another oh-so-close result, this time against Greg.
Greg said they had played well but small things win close matches and the three sudden-death deuce games which went the Colombians way at the beginning of the second set turned the tide of the match and although the "Gregs" had fought hard, they could not take their chances and ended up on the wrong side of the score-line.
Earlier in the day Greg Ouellette won his first round singles match, while Greg is only scheduled to play tomorrow. 

Grass Season - s'-Hertogenbosch #2

In the second round of qualifying in the "Topshelf" tournament in s'-Hergotenbosch Greg was up against French rising star, 19 year-old Lucas Pouille, currently ranked 261, who had excelled at the French Open, winning his first round after receiving a wild card. But that was on clay and this was a grass court tournament, so he would be making the switch of surfaces with not much practice.
Greg took advantage of Pouille's lack of grass court practise and broke the Frenchman early to lead 3-1. Greg then served well, facing no break-points against him in the first set. At 5-3 he had a break-point opportunity to win the set but Pouille held his nerve and his serve to take the score to 5-4 and force Greg to serve for the set. This Greg did, winning the set 6-4.

The Centre Court

With Pouille serving first Greg again broke early to lead 2-1. However this time Pouille hit back immediately and had Greg at 0-30. Greg recovered to level at 30-30 but was unable to stop Pouille from breaking back to level at 2-2. Greg fought back, having two brerak-points in the next game but he was unable to convert, Pouille holding serve to lead 3-2. Games then went with serve to 6-6 and the tie-break. Pouille got an immediate lead in the tie-break to lead 2-0, then 4-2 and 5-3. Greg brok back to get back on serve at 5-4 but then lost his next serve, allowing Pouille to bring up set-point and win the tie-break 7-4, to level the match at 1 set all.

French youngster Lucas Pouille

Pouille now had his grass feet, Greg's serve had lost it's zing and Pouille was returning well. Greg said he played well but he was unable to make in-roads into Pouille's serve in the third set. Inevitably Pouille broke Greg to lead lead 3-1, then 4-1. At 4-2, Greg got Pouille to deuce but could not break the Frenchman who held for 5-2. He then put the pressure on Greg to stay in the match and brought up match-point on Greg's serve, converting the break-point to win the set 6-2, and a close match 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Greg in Cascais, Portugal

Greg was disappointed but said he had served and played well and had matched Pouille, but Pouille had won the critical points. Pouille qualified, losing to Jeremy Chardy in the first round.
Greg did not make the cut for Wimbledon qualifying, so had a short six-day break in London and Cascais, Portugal with his parents. He then went back to Florida to train for a week before travelling to Manta, in Ecuador, for a Challenger tournament on hard court.

Grass Season - s'-Hertogenbosch #1



s'-Hertogenbosch Tournament

 After Halle Greg travelled to Holland for the qualifying of the s'-Hertogenbosch ATP250 grass tournament, he and Greg Oulette getting a lift with Jan Hernych, who beat Greg in the final round of qualifying at Halle and then proceeded to get to the third round. His first round opponent was 30 year-old Czech Lucas Dlouhy, who now concentrated mainly on the doubles tour and thus had no singles ranking, but had a high ranking of 73 in 2006 and has a current doubles ranking of 45 with a high of 5. They had played each other once before about four years ago in the Australian Open qualifying and Dlouhy had triumphed in three sets. 

Lukas Dlouhy

Greg dominated the first set, breaking Dlouhy to go 3-1 up and then skipped away to win the first set 6-1, serving well and facing no break points, whilst forcing Dlouhy to face 5 break-points and converting twice.

Serving first in the second set, Dlouhy picked up his game, and games went with serve to 3-3. Greg then had Dlouhy at 15-40 but Dlouhy saved both break-point opportunities and held serve to get to 4-3 up. Greg was serving well and again did not face a break-point opportunity and games went to the tie-break at 6-6.

In the tie-break Greg got an early break and then continued on, holding serve and then breaking Dlouhy again to win the tie-break 7-3 and progress to the second round with a 6-1, 7-6 win.