USA in the Autumn 2016 - Las Vegas #2

Twenty two year old American Alexios Helebian was Greg's first round opponent in qualifying for the Las Vegas challenger. Currently ranked slightly better than Greg at 589, left-handed Halebian will no doubt be a tough opponent but Greg will be confidently creating an upset if he performed, even though the wind was blowing a gale and making conditions very difficult and almost unplayable
It was Halebian who served first and it was the bigger server Greg who was having trouble adjusted to the windy conditions, even though he was serving at a high percentage. Halebian was able to break Greg to go 3-1 up and then held for a 4-1 lead. Greg rallied to get to 2-4 but then at 2-5, dropped his serve again to give Halebian the set 6-2.

American Alexios Halebian

With Halebian again serving first in the second set, both players concentrated on controlling their serves in the high wind and surprisingly held serve quite easily, only dropping 6 points between them in getting to 4-4. The wind was creating more problems for the players on their returns and ground shots, with balls propping, turning and shooting through unpredictably. Then Greg forced Halebian to deuce and then brought up break point, but Halebian held firm to get to 5-4 up. Greg held to love to level at 5-5, then again brought up two break point opportunities on Halebian's serve. But again Halebian denied him and held serve to go 6-5. Now the pressure was on Greg and he faced match point in the next game at 30-40, but he too was able to save and hold serve, to get the set to the tie-break at 6-6.
In the tie-break the players kept the score close, taking the points to set point at 6-5 in Greg's favour, with Halebian serving. Halebian denied Greg and brought up match point at 7-6 up, but on Greg's serve. It was Greg's turn to save to get to 7-7 and hold to go 8-7 ahead, and have another set point. This time he was able to break Halebian and pouch a desperately needed tie-break 9-7, and win the second set 7-6, to take the match into a third set.
The third set, with Greg serving set, went much the same way as that of the second set, except Greg was holding serve easier, serving at a higher percentage than Halebian, and eventually the pressure told, in Greg's favour. At 4-3 up, Greg was able to get Halebian to 15-40 and converted the opportunity to lead 5-3, and serve for the match. Halebian fought back, pegging Greg back from 30-0 to 30-30 but Greg responded, bringing up match point and winning the game, to win the set 6-3, and a closely fought match 2-6, 7-6(7).
A close call for Greg who saved two match points against him, but showed good mental strength to stay in the match and squeek out a win, in difficult windy conditions.

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Las Vegas #1

The week in San Fransisco was spent practising and training, when Greg could gain access to a court at Fairfield, and an unexpected encounter.


The spectacular view

Whilst driving to the tennis centre one morning Greg saw a spectacular viewing spot, with an amazing view over the city and bridge and asked the driver if she could stop so he could take a photo. She obliged and Greg jogged back up  little way to the viewing spot. Sitting on a bench in the small park looking at the view was another guy. Greg glanced at him, did a double take and then said "Wyatt Roy". The guy looked up and replied "Greg?'.

Greg with old school mate Wyatt

 It was a friend of Greg that had been at junior school with Greg fifteen years ago. They were very good mates, had been at school together in Mosman in Sydney for five years, had played in the same soccer team and were generally on the same wave length. Greg went on his tennis journey and Wyatt and family, originally from the USA, returned to America. Wyatt went on to study at Stanford and now was resident in San Fransisco. He just happened to be at that scenic viewing spot to oversee a photo/video shoot for a commercial.
What a coincidence and such immaculate timing.
After an exchange of greetings and a quick photo, they resolved to meet up the next evening and catch up on old times. After that it was off to Las Vegas for Greg, for the next round of qualifying for the following week's Challenger tournament.

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Fairfield #2

The second round of qualifying saw Greg up against on old mate who he played doubles with in his first year of ITF Juniors, 28 year old Chilean Hans Podlipnik-Castillo, currently ranked 366. Hans won eight Futures singles and eleven doubles titles in Futures and Challengers last year, so will be a tough test for Greg. They have not played each other previously.
It was a match of differing sets for Greg, especially in the serving department. He did not start well and struggled to find his rhythm and first serve early in the first set and was broken early on by Podlipnik-Castillo, who was in the groove and held serve to take the score to 5-3. He then brought up 3 set points on Greg's serve but Greg responded, getting back to deuce and then holding serve, to get to 4-5, and force Podlipnik-Castillo to serve out the set. But to no avail as he did so, taking the first set 6-4.

Old mate Hans Podlipnik-Castillo

By contrast, in the second set, again serving first, Greg found his rhythm and starting nailing those first serves, only dropping two points on serve in the set. He served three consecutive love games to get to 3-2 up, then at 4-3 he forced Podlipnik-Castilloto deuce, then break point, converting to go 5-3 up. Greg then served out the game to love again, to win the set 6-3 and take the match to the third set.
Greg again served well in the third set, holding his serve more easily than Podlipnik-Castillo but was not able to bring up that crucial break point. Then at 2-3, serving with the old balls, Greg faced break point and was unable to hold, giving Podlipnik-Castillo the crucial break and a 4-2 lead. Greg fought back, getting Podlipnik-Castillo to deuce, but again was unable to bring up break point. Podlipnik-Castillo held firm and served out the set 6-3, winning a long 2 hour plus match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
A frustrated Greg bowed out in the second round of qualifying again. He had won far more points in the match than his opponent, yet came out on the losing side of the match. 

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Fairfield #1

And so onto the next Challenger, this week in Fairfield, San Fransisco, for the first round of qualifying. Greg's opponent was 22 year-old American College player Connor Farren, with a ranking of 1068.
In a strange start to the match, Greg had a great start, breaking Farren in the first game and then, despite serving four first serves, Greg dropped his serve to love. The players then swapped breaks of serve again to get to 4-4. Greg said later that the backdrop to the courts, which are supposed to provide a sight screen to enable the ball to be seen better, were covered entirely with advertising material and both players were having trouble picking up the ball and took awhile to adjust. Greg was also struggling with a racquet which had not been strung to the correct tension - it was too loose, and it took him awhile to realise the problem. At 3-4 down he changed to a racquet strung the previous week and immediately noticed the difference.

A young Farren at Wimbledon Juniors
in 2012

Farren and Greg both held serve to go to 5-5, then Greg forced Farren to 15-40 and the opportunity of two set points. Farren responded, serving a miraculous second serve ace to get to deuce and then save the game to go 6-5 up. Greg served out his game to love to take the set to the tie-break. Farren got the early advantage, breaking Greg to go 2-0, then 3-1 up. Greg pegged him back, breaking to change ends at 3-3. At 6-5 up, but on Farren's serve, Greg had his third set point but Farren saved to get to 6-6. Then after changing ends, Greg broke Farren to bring up his fourth set point at 7-6, the first on his serve, and converted to pouch the tie-break 8-6, and win the set 7-6.
Serving first, and playing much better with a racquet that had been re-strung for him, Greg then held serve to love twice, to get to 2-1 up. He then broke Farren at 15-40 to go 3-1 up, then held for 4-1. At 5-2 up Greg brought up match point on Farren's serve but again Farren saved and won the game, forcing Greg to serve for the match at 5-3. Playing with confidence now, having only lost three points on his serve in the second set, Greg served out the game to love, winning the set 6-3 and the match 7-6(6), 6-3.
A tentative first set for Greg, which could have gone either way, but once he got his game and equipment in order a solid second set and good result for Greg, who along with house-mate Dennis Nevolo, was looking to get his racquets strung elsewhere in time for the second round qualifying match tomorrow. 

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Stockton #2

The second round of qualifying in Stockton, California saw Greg facing up against the No. 6 seed, 24 year-old Ecuadorian Emilio Gomez, currently ranked 252, with a high rank of 215 in July 2014.
Gomez led off, holding serve and then putting pressure on Greg, playing catch-up. They swopped breaks of serve and traded blows to 2-2. But Greg was struggling to hit the spots on his first serve, serving at 53% and winning only 55% of those serves, and Gomez capitalised, breaking Greg to go a break-up. He served out the set confidently, winning it 6-3.


Ecuadorian Emilio Gomez

Greg served first in the second set but was unable to improve on his serve percentages. Gomez kept the pressure on Greg and was able to convert that pressure, bringing up break point and breaking Greg, to again take the advantage. Greg fought back but Gomez saved four break points in the set to deny Greg and hold serve, games going to 5-3. Serving to stay in the match and force Gomez to serve for the set, Greg quickly got to 30-15, but then lost the next two points to bring up match point against him. He was unable to stop Gomez from breaking for a second time in the set, winning the set 6-3 and a hard fought match 6-3, 6-3.Greg was obviously disappointed in the result, and particularly his serve which let him down, but he had returned well and played well off the ground. He had created seven break-point opportunities but had only converted one of those chances, whilst Gomez had converted four of his nine chances. Another second round loss for Greg, who had a favourable draw and a long week of training awaits him before the next tournament.

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Stockton #1

Just a short drive north east of San Fransisco is the town of Stockton, venue of the next Challenger stop for Greg. In the qualifying, his first round opponent was young 22 year-old Englishman Lloyd Glasspool, near his highest ranking, this week at 292. It will be a tough test for Greg, as last week Glasspool beat Dennis Nevolo, the player to whom Greg had lost to at Tiburon.
On a gutsy wind day, Glasspool served first and after holding serve broke Greg to go 2-0 up. Greg hit back, breaking Glasspool to close the gap, only to have Glasspool break him again, to go 3-1 up, then consolidate the break for a 4-1 lead.
At 5-2, Glasspool vented some frustration, shouting that neither player could hit the ball out the middle of the racquet, and then Greg started to do so. He held serve then, with Glasspool serving for the set, he took advantage of Glasspool's frustration and broke him, to get the break back at 4-5. Greg held serve to level at 5-5, and then brought up break point on Glasspool's serve. Greg again converted to go 6-5 up and have a chance to serve for the set. Greg stepped up and pouched the set 7-5.

Englishman Lloyd Glasspool

Glasspool started the second set well, holding serve to lead 1-0, and Greg responded to level at 1-1. Greg then broke Glasspool to take the advantage, serving at 2-1. But before Greg could change sides to serve Glasspool came to the net and retired from the match. Greg was surprised but did note that Glasspool had his arm strapped, so assumed that Glasspool had determined he could not continue.
Greg said he had played well, especially on serve, but that the breezy conditions had may play difficult. Some luck for Greg, who was leading in the match.
 

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Tiburon #2

The second round of qualifying for the Tiburon Challenger saw Greg facing another tough match, this time against his house mate and good friend, 26 year-old Dennis Nevolo from the USA. Having knocked off the No. 4 seed in the first round, Greg would have been hoping for less of a challenge in the second round but Nevolo, ranked 485 this week, will be approaching the match as a good opportunity with the seed removed. He will fight just as hard as Greg to progress to the final round of qualifying and be hoping that Greg's long three set match, after a three week or longer lay-off, will slow him down just enough.

Serving first Greg did not get off to a good start, saving two break points before dropping his first service game, handing the advantage to Nevolo. Greg now had to play catch up. Nevolo was returning well and Greg again had to save break point to get to 1-2, then 1-3. He rallied and held serve for 2-3, then proceeded to reel in Nevolo, forcing him to break point and converting to level at 3-3. Then in a long game Greg saved another two break points to go a 4-3. Nevolo quickly held to love, to level at 4-4, and put the pressure straight back on Greg's serve. Again Nevolo got Greg to deuce, then break-point. Greg twice saved break points but could not save the third and Nevolo had the break, to lead 5-4 and serve for the set.

But Greg was not out yet, breaking Nevolo to again level the set, at 5-5, only for Nevolo to break again to serve for the match a second time at 6-5. Neither of them could hold serve! And Greg fought back and broke Nevolo once again to take the set to the tiebreak at 6-6.

Dennis Nevolo

Nevolo had been holding serve easier than Greg, serving only 23 points to Greg's 55 points up to the then, and this showed in the tie-break, Nevolo taking an early lead, breaking Greg and holding serve to go 3-0 up. He repeated the dose, breaking Greg twice more to go 5-0 up and then serving out the tie-break 7-0, dominating to win the first set 7-6.

The first set proved to be crucial. With that under his belt, and having forced Greg to serve double the amount than he had, Nevolo was able to attack a Greg's serve and broke him immediately to go out to a 3-0 lead, then forced Greg to 0-40. Greg saved two points but lost then next, Nevolo going a double break up, and taking a stranglehold on the match. Greg finally held serve but could not stop Nevolo from serving out the set 6-1 and winning the match 7-6(0), 6-1.

Greg had served well, with a high first serve percentage, but Nevolo had returned equally as well, and had restricted Greg to winning only 8 points on his second serve in the match, which made the difference. It will be a long week training and hitting for Greg, before the tournament next week.

USA in the Autumn 2016 - Tiburon #1

Greg had a busy three week break at home in Australia, recuperating from niggling shoulder and other injuries, applying for a USA visa which will give him more options for playing and travelling in the USA, \testing different racquet and string combinations and also training hard at Kooyong and Melbourne Park. Then Greg was again off to the USA for a series of Challenger tournaments. His first stop was Tiburon, just north of San Francisco city, for the $100,000 Wells Fargo tournament. Due to his current ranking, around 598, Greg was in qualifying and in the first round faced up against young 21 year old Italian Lorenzo Sonego, currently ranked 281, who will be a stern test for Greg.

Serving first, it was Greg who dominated the play, winning 100% of his first serves and 67% of his second serves, to not face a break point in the first set. He was returning well too, forcing Sonego to face three break points. Sonego managed to save one of those points but Greg converted the other two opportunities, breaking Sonego twice and serving out the first set 6-2.
Sonego fought back and got a better look at Greg's serve in the second set, winning more points and matching Greg. They both broke once in a tightly fought sets, with games going to the tie-break at 6-6. In the tie-break Sonego got an early mini-break to go to the first change of ends at 4-2 up. Greg served to get to 3-4, then broke Sonegro to get back on serve at 4-5. Remaining aggressive, Greg served an ace to level at 5-5 but then produced a double fault to present Sonego with set point at 5-6, rather than perhaps having match point. Sonego then snaffled the tie-break 7-5 and the second set 7-6, to tie the match up at a set-all.

Young Italian Lorenzo Sonego

Seeing the chance to win the match in straight sets disappear, Greg was undeterred, serving a good first game in the third set, then attacking Sonego's serve, forcing him to break point and converting, to lead 2-0. Sonego responded and immediately broke back, much to Greg's annoyance. Greg upped the pressure on Sonego's serve, returning well and again breaking the Italian to lead 3-1, then holding serve fro a 4-1 lead. But Sonego's resolve was not broken and he held serve himself, then proceeded to break Greg's serve again to get to 3-4. He then held again to level the third set at 4-4. In a critical game which went to deuce, Greg managed to hold serve to lead 5-4. He then put as much pressure on Sonego as possible, and at 40-30 Sonego buckled to Greg's returning pressure, and served two double faults in a row to hand match point to Greg. Greg was up to the task and thankfully broke the young Italian to win the third set 6-4, and a hard fought match 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4.
Still two matches to win to qualify but a good first match for Greg. He was happy with his performance and his ability to go the three sets and win, and also happy with his new racquets and string combination.