Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F4 #5

After his gruelling 3hr+ win in the second round in Mornington Greg, a bit sore and stiff, would be hoping for a far shorter match in the quarter final round. His opponent was the No.5 seed, big serving leftie Victorian Dayne Kelly, who had been the victor in the finals match in Mildura. That was in 40 degree heat and on grass, and Greg would be pleased about the cooler weather but perhaps not about the "en tout cas" clay surface, on which Kelly would have played on when growing up.

Leftie Dayne Kelly at Morninton


With Greg serving first, both players were forced to save break points in their first service games to get to 1-1. From then they both did not give up another break point opportunity in getting to 5-4, Greg leading. Greg then brought up two set points on Kelly's serve, but Kelly held his nerve, saving those opportunities, denying Greg the break. Both players then held serve, taking the set to the tiebreaker at 6-6. Greg then got in the zone, serving and returning well to break Kelly on all of his serves, and win the tiebreaker 7-0. First set to Greg.

Greg at Mornington

Greg then pressed home his advantage, breaking Kelly in the first game of the second set, to lead 1-0, then holding serve, to go out to a 4-2 lead. Kelly serving with the old balls, held to stay close to Greg at 4-3. Then, ironically, with Greg serving with new balls in the 21st game, was not able to adjust quick enough to the harder balls, and Kelly forced him to 0-40. Greg saved one break point but could not prevent Kelly from breaking back to level the score at 4-4, then holding serve to love, to consolidate the break to lead 5-4. Greg responded to level at 5-5. But Kelly now had the momentum, and fatigue was beginning to set in for Greg, Kelly breaking Greg to pouch the second set 7-5 and take the match to a third set. Not something Greg wanted after his marathon match the previous day.

Kelly had the advantage of serving first in the third set and kept his nose in front on the scoreboard and the pressure on Greg. Greg twice forced Kelly to multiple deuce games but could not bring up break point, the score going to 3-2 on serve in Kelly's favour as the match clock approached the 3 hour mark. Then Greg saved a break point in his next game, then had multiple game points and deuces, but could not win the game, before Kelly managed to bring up another break point, this time converting to break a fatigued Greg and seize the initiative. He then consolidated the break to lead 5-2. Greg's run had come to an end, Kelly breaking him again to win the third set 6-2, fighting back from a set and a break down to win the match 67, 7-5, 6-2.

Dayne on the back hand side

It was a close thing for Greg, but his marathon second round match had given the fresher Kelly the edge in another long 3hr 11min match. Greg had to win it in two sets, and unfortunately not been able to hold on to his break lead in the second set. A disappointing loss for Greg. A close win followed by an equally close loss, in a match he could have won. But in many respects a good week in retrospect for Greg, who had proved to himself that he can last through the rigours of long, tough sets and go the distance when it matters. Some more valuable match time and building on match fitness for the months to come.

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F4 #4

After the disappointment of losing the doubles, Greg was back in the thick on the tournament in Mornington, this time in the second round of the singles. His opponent was the No.2 seed, Queenslander Maverick Banes, currently ranked 343 in the singles. Greg had met and beaten Banes in Mildura on grass, but playing the consistent Banes on the "en tout cas" clay will be a different story.

The picturesque Mornington Peninsula

Serving first Greg got off to bad start, being broken by Banes, who went 2-0. Banes the repeated the break, to lead a double break, 3-0. Greg was starting to find the range and forced Banes to save two break points, which he did to lead an imposing 4-0. But Greg just knuckled down to the task, holding serve to get on the board, then breaking Banes to get to 2-4, one break back. Banes kept the pressure on though and Greg was forced to save another break point to get to 3-4. He then again had Banes facing two break points. Banes responded, getting the game to deuce but could not save a further break point, to see Greg level at 4-4. Greg should have had an easy hold at 40-15 in the next game but Banes forced him to deuce, then brought up another break point opportunity of Greg's serve. Greg saved and had multiple deuce points before winning his fifth game in a row, to lead the first set 5-4, and force Banes to serve to stay in the set! Banes hit five first serves in response, breaking Greg's run to leave the score at 5-5. Greg held for 6-5, then applied the pressure on Banes, to bring up three set points at 0-40. Banes saved two but not the third, as Greg snaffled the first set 7-5, after a remarkable come-back.

Maverick Banes

A set up now, Greg was playing with more confidence, but Banes was keen on hitting back and again broke Greg twice in a row to lead 3-0. Greg hit back breaking Banes to get a break back, then saved two break points to get to 2-3. Could he repeat the first set and get level after being two breaks behind? But this time Banes held firm, going 4-2 up. He then forced Greg to 15-40, Greg saving the first break point but, serving with very old balls, was unable to stop Banes breaking again, to serve for the set at 5-2. Greg got him to 30-30 but Banes won the next two points to win the set 6-2, and level the match at a set all. 
Greg was determined to not fall behind again at the beginning of the third set and managed to hold serve to lead. He then, on the second game with the new balls, proceeded to peg Banes back and break him to got 2-0 up. Then Greg served a love game to consolidate the break, 3-0. Banes hit back, holding serve and then getting Greg to 15-40. An ace saved the first break point but Banes managed to break Greg, to level the set at 3-3.

They both held serve well, Banes at one stage serving 11 first serves in a row, to take the score to 4-4. Greg then faced two break points but scrambled to get to deuce and win the game to go to 5-4. Then at 5-5 Greg again faced break point and, in what turned out to be a pivotal marathon 25 point game, Greg saved 4 break points and had had 9 deuces, before finally converting an advantage point with much relief to lead the set 6-5. Banes stepped up intent on taking the set to the tie-break and appeared to be on track at 40-15 but Greg, returning well, pegged him back to deuce. Then lady luck came to Greg's aid. He managed to return a serve which clipped the top of the net and dropped dead over the net. Match point to Greg which he converted to avoid going to the tie-break and win a 3 hour 21 minute match 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
It was a great fighting match for Greg, showing buckets of ticker and great mental fortitude, especially at 5-5 in the third set. Banes had to be commended as well, not fading away once Greg won the first set from 0-4 down and coming back at Greg when a break down in the 3rd set. Banes had served extremely well, at almost 80% in the second and third sets, but Greg was able to return well and restrict Banes from winning a high percentage of those serves. Greg was pooped, tired and sore, and still suffering from a cold, coughing and wheezing, and was heading immediately for some food and then a massage to try to get rid of some stiffness in preparation for the next round.

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F4 #3

In the second round of the doubles in Mornington Greg and Andrew, who had also won the singles title last week, again faced up against the No. 2 seeds Gavin Van Pepperzeel and Brad Mousley, who they had beaten in the finals in fading light late in the evening on Friday last week.

Brad Mousley

Greg, still suffering with a cold, and Andrew, tired from all the tennis last week and a long three set match that morning (which he won), were slow starters and gave up an early break, and any advantage they had, to their opponents. Van Pepperzeel and Mousley were intent on revenge for last week's loss and Greg said they were just teeing off at everything, helped by Greg and Andrew serving well below par at less than 30% in the early stages of the first set. In contrast Mousley and Van Pepperzeel were serving well and once a break up at 3-1, they maintained their lead. Serving for the set at 5-3, Greg and Andrew forced them to break-point at 30-40 but Van Pepperzeel and Mousley responded and saved that point and then won the deciding point to deny them the opportunity to break back, sealing the set win 6-3.

Gavin van Pepperzeel

Van Pepperzeel and Mousley then immediately broke Greg and Andrew, now into the match and serving well, to lead the second set 1-0, then 2-0. They were determined not to be broken and Greg and Andrew could force no opportunities, not even deciding point, as Van Pepperzeel and Mousley served well to effectively shut them out and maintain their advantage to go 5-3 up. They then forced Greg and Andrew to 15-40, bringing up match point and converting, to break Greg and Andrew a second time and win the set 6-3, and the match 6-3, 6-3, bundling last week's title winners out of this week's doubles tournament.
In a match only slightly different from that of last week Greg and Andrew were slightly off their game, down on energy and slow to start, whilst their opponents were pumped and on fire from the get-go, and it showed in the results.

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F4 #2

By quirk of the draw Greg and Andrew were scheduled to play the same player Greg had faced in the first round of the singles, Italian Matteo Marfia and his Italian mate 23 year-old Thommaso Lago, ranked 984 in the doubles.

Matteo Marfia

It was a tougher match than expected, but Greg and Andrew were able to make inroads into the Italians game in the first set, forcing them to save deciding point in their first two service games before breaking the Italians in consecutive service games, to go ahead and then serve out the set 6-3.

Italian Thommaso Lago

The second set was even tighter, but Greg and Andrew got the all important break to go ahead 2-1, then 3-1 ahead. They then served well to maintain their lead, saving three break points from 0-40 down, then winning the deciding point, to go 4-2 up. An important save. The Italians forced them to serve for the set at 5-4, and at 30-0 and feeling the worse for wear from his cold (and at that time a little delirious Greg said, after his singles and now the doubles match), Greg served two consecutive double faults. The Italians got a sniff and took advantage at 30-30, winning the next two points and breaking Greg's serve to level at 5-5, then hold serve lead 6-5. They were back in the match in the short format doubles game. But Greg and Andrew rallied to take the set to the tie-break.
In the tie-break they redeemed themselves, reeling off seven straight points, to snuff out the Italians attempted come-back and win the set 7-6. So five wins in a row for the team and into the second round of the doubles.

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F4 #1

Greg woke up a few days after playing the doubles final with a head feeling like he was getting flu or a cold, so he dosed up and hoped that he would be ok for the second of the two Futures tournaments to be played in Mornington. He would have preferred a Wednesday start, but it was not to be, second match on Tuesday scheduled for him. 
He again avoided a seed in the first round, this time up against a foreign player, 29 year-old Italian Matteo Marfia, currently ranked 767, with a high rank of 696 in June 2015. No doubt Marfia would be pretty handy on the "en tout cas" clay court surface. 

Italian Matteo Marfia

Serving first Greg did not get the best of starts, being broken in his first service game. He fought back and forced Marfia to face a break-point in the next game but could stop going a quick 0-2 down. He responded and held serve, before breaking Marfia to level at 2-2, then holding serve to lead 3-2. Greg then maintained the pressure, breaking Marfia again to go 5-3 up, then serving out the set 6-3.
The second set started better than the first for Greg. At 1-1 he broke Marfia and then proceeded to dominate the set, holding serve and then breaking Marfia again to lead 5-1. Marfia held serve to get to 5-2 but could not stop Greg from winning the set 6-2, and a one-sided match 6-3, 6-2.
A good match for Greg who, a bit underdone because of his cold, could ease into the match without being under too much pressure. 
He was scheduled to play the doubles first round match later in the afternoon, again playing with Andrew Whittington.

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F3 #6

For the doubles final, the Mornington Peninsula served up a blustery, rainy day. As the singles semi-finals matches were played first, the doubles final, scheduled for 5pm, was pushed back as the intermittent rain delayed the start of play and had the singles matches temporarily stopped, so that it was well into the evening, in cold conditions and with light fading that Greg and Andrew Whittington took to the court, against the No.2 seeded pairing of Brad Mousley and Gavin van Pepperzeel. Twenty year-old Mousley, ranked 331, was a promising Junior player, winning the Australian Open Junior Doubles title twice, in 2013 and 2014 whilst Van Pepperzeel, ranked 514 in the doubles, was the No. 1 seeded player in the singles this week.
With the light fading fast, in cold windy conditions both teams were keen to get on with the match, quick between points with no messing around. Greg and Andrew were the first to get an advantage, breaking theor opponents in their first service game and holding to get to 3-0 up. The No.2 seed hit back, breaking and levelling at 3-3, only to see Greg and Andrew break again to lead 5-3 and serve for the set, which they did to snare an important first set win 6-3.

Doubles winners Greg and Andrew, with
finalists Van Pepperzeel and Mousley

Greg said the second set was a bit farcical as the players increased the play rate in order to get a result before the fading light would stop play, games quickly going to 1-1. Greg and Andrew then applied the pressure and where able to break Mousley and Van Pepperzeel twice to take a stronghold lead in the match with a double break 4-1, then 5-1, lead. A couple of service games later and Greg and Andrew won the set, doubles title winners with a 6-3, 6-2 score-line.
Greg was chuffed with the win, which will build his confidence and gave him some more valuable court time, albeit in windy conditions not too conducive to playing quality tennis. He will get his doubles ranking back with a bang, with maximum points gleaned in only his second tournament for quite awhile. Still a bit stiff from being on the court each day, he is hopeful that his body will recover injury free and he will be back on court in good shape next week.

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F3 #5

Mornington Tennis Club

 After the singles match on Thursday it was back onto court for Greg, partnering Andrew Whittington, who is ranked a tidy 205 in the doubles, whilst Greg is still unranked after losing all his ranking points during his period of injury. In the semi-finals in the Mornington F3, they were up against fellow Aussies Scott Puodziunas and Callum Puttergill, ranked 956 and 1048 respectively.

Callum Puttergill

Greg and Andrew were in the zone early on in the match, Greg seeing the ball extremely well after his singles match, and they raced to a 5-0 lead, after dominating and breaking their opponents twice. Puodziunas and Puttergill got on the score board but could not prevent Greg and Andrew serving out the set 6-1.

Scott Puodziunas

Puodziunas and Puttergill then managed to hold their opening service game in the second set, and forced Greg and Andrew to face deciding point at deuce in the next set but Greg and Andrew held firm, winning the point to level at 1-1. Greg and Andrew then dominated the match again, breaking Puodziunas and Puttergill to ease out to a break advantage, then repeating the dose to go 5-1 up, eventually winning the match, in which they were the front runners all the way, 6-1, 6-2.
So into his second final in consecutive tournaments for Greg, albeit this week in the doubles.
 

Aussie Autumn 2016 - Mornington F3 #4

Greg's second round opponent in the singles in windy Mornington was a fellow Sydney Northern Beaches player, the No. 7 seed Chris O'Connell, currently ranked 492. Twenty year old O'Connell had taken a short break from competition at the end of last year, working to accumulate funds to pay for his tennis, whilst training and hitting. Back on the tour in good form, O'Connell took out the singles title in Port Pirie in February.

Aussie Chris O'Connell

With O'Connell serving first, he started the better, holding serve then breaking Greg to lead 2-0. But Greg hit back, breaking back immediately, then holding serve to level at 2-2. O'Connell again took the advantage when he broke Greg for a second time, holding serve to lead 5-2. Greg was undeterred, holding serve, putting pressure on O'Connell to serve for the set. The pressure told and Greg was able to break back, then hold serve to level at 5-5. Both players then held serve to go to the tie-break at 6-6.

In the breaker Greg broke first serve, racing ahead to 2-0, only for O'Connell to break back. Greg managed to stay ahead and broke to lead 4-2, then had four set points at 6-2. O'Connell won the next service point but could not stop Greg from winning the tie-break 7-3, and lead the match by one set to all. 

O'Connell's serve was at over 80% in 3rd set

Greg and O'Connell both had the bit between their teeth at the beginning of the second set, reeling off the next 6 games to get to 3-3. Then, serving with the older balls in games 19 and 21, as is the case in Futures matches where players only get new balls after the first 9 games and then 13 games later after 22 games (unlike in the ATP at 7 and 9 games where they play with newer, harder balls, which suits a the harder hitting player like Greg's game better), Greg struggled to get any zip with the balls and was broken in both service games, to suddenly lose the set 6-3 to O'Connell.
With the momentum behind him, O'Connell then broke Greg, this time serving with new balls, early in the third set, to seize the initiative and lead 3-0. Greg rallied but was unable to put any pressure in the ensuing games on O'Connell, who was serving at over 80% of 1st serves, games going to 4-1, then 5-2. Greg held serve to force on O'Connell to serve for the match, but on O'Connell continued his good serving and blocked any attempt by Greg to get a look in, winning the set 6-3, and the match 67(5) 6-3, 6-3.
Greg was disappointed with the result but happy with his performance on the entrecote surface, identifying a few thing he could do better and work on. In any event he had little time to dwell on the result, as he the semi-finals of the doubles still to play that evening.