Australian Autumn 2017 - Canberra #1

After almost a month of recuperation and training to get match fit again, whilst getting the requisite hitting, Greg decided his knee injury was healed enough and it was time to hit the pro-circuit again. The qvenue was the clay courts at Lyneham Tennis Centre in Canberra.
It was doubles first for Greg, and Kiwi partner Rubin Statham, up against the No. 4 seeds, Queenslanders Maverick Banes and Gavin van Peperzeel.

Maverick Banes

In a close fought match Greg and Rubin were unable to take the few sudden death chances they created and were then broken to go behind at 4-2. Two live games later they were back level at 4-4. Games went with serve to 6-6, and similarly both team held severe in the tie-break to get to 5-6, where Greg and Rubin saved set point. They were unable to capitalise on a set point at 7-6 and then were the first to blink, dropping serve to lose the tie-break 10-8.


Gavin van Peperzeel

The second set followed the same pattern at the start, Greg and Rubin unable to take two sudden death deuce service break opportunities, then finding themselves a break down. This set they were unable to recover the deficit and were broken again at the death, to lose the match 7-6(8), 6-2.An inauspicious start to his return but his body and knee responded well, coming through the match unscathed. Singles tomorrow.

Australia in the Summer 2017 - Launceston #1

Launceston, just two hours from Burnie in Tasmania was the venue for the next Challenger tournament. Greg, seeded 3 in qualifying, was up against hot junior Australian 16 year-old, Matthew Dellavedova, who has already attained an ATP ranking. Greg will have been confident of a win going into the match, except that he had picked up inflammation of the left patella during the previous week, which had not disappeared as he hoped after a days rest.

Junior Matt Dellavedova

Greg put Dellavedova under early pressure but was not able to bring up a break point opportunity and Delladedova held serve. Games went with serve to 3-3, despite Greg serving at well below 50%. Dellavedova was then able break Greg, going up 4-3, then fending off Greg's attempts to fight back, to go 5-3 up. Greg held for 5-4, then took an injury time out to have his left knee taped. He returned more confident in his movement but was unable to prevent Dellavedova from winning the set 6-4. 
After some more treatment during the set break Greg came out with renewed energy and movement, serving four first sets in winning the first service game, then breaking young Dellavedova easily to go 2-0 up. But he was unable to keep up the momentum and Dellavedova hit back, breaking Greg in getting back level at 2-2. Greg battled on, but with his knee not getting better and hindering his movement, he decided that prudence was required, and with the score at 4-3 in Greg's favour, and he retired from the match. 
Greg was naturally disappointed but could see no point in perhaps doing even more harm to his knee, whilst unsure if he could finish the match, or backup the next day and the rest of the week, with the chance of being off for an extended period. The on-site physio backed up his decision, saying he was worried that Greg was going to damage his knee further. He advised Greg to take a week off then test his knee before starting light training. So ends his Tasmanian tour this year.
Greg took himself off on a drive past Wine Glass Bay, then along the coast to Hobart, a city he had never been to despite 10 years or so of playing tournaments on the northern Tasmanian coast. He stayed overnight being a tourists, even visiting the "MONA" Museum, before flying back to Melbourne.

Australia in the Summer 2017 - Burnie #5

A little less than 90 minutes and Greg and Chris were back on court for their second round doubles match, the third match of the day for a tired Chris. They were up against the second seeded pairing of Aussie Jarryd Chaplin and New Zealander Ben Mclachlan. Both 24 years old, and from an American Collegiate tennis background, they have concentrated their efforts on the doubles stage and are both currently ranked just under 190, Ben having won six Futures doubles titles in 2016 and Jarryd having won twice. Greg and Jarryd have known each other since school days, having trained together at Homebush when juniors, and are still good friends. Greg and Chris will need to perform at their best, again in a stiff Bernie "breeze".

NSW's Jarryd Chaplin

Both teams managed to save deciding deuce point in getting the score to 2-2, with Jarryd and Ben just shading their opponents in holding serve. Serving with the old balls in the seventh game, they forced Greg and Oaks to 0-40, and staring down four break-points in the sudden death format, Greg and Oaks were able to save the first two points but were unable to prevent the break, giving up a vital break of serve to trail 3-4. Jarryd and Ben quickly held for 3-5, and shut out their opponents again to hold again at 5-4 to win the set 6-4.

Kiwi Ben Mclachlan

Jarryd and Ben were serving well, and they gave away little in getting the score to 3-3 in the second set. Again on the seventh serve Greg and Oaks came under pressure, giving up a break point opportunity which was seized by their opponents, who went ahead 4-3. They again held easily to lead 5-3 and this time they broke Greg and Oaks again the pouch the second set 6-3 and win the match in straight sets.
Greg was disappointed but said they had played well in difficult conditions, having backed up agaisnt a well established and fresher doubles pairing, with Oaks playing his third match of the day.
On to Launceston for weekend qualifying and next week's tournament.
 

Australia in the Summer 2017 - Burnie #4

After a delay of three days due to the rain, having originally being scheduled to play on Monday, Greg and partner, 22 year-old Australian Chris "Oaks" O'Connell, took to the court for their first round doubles match. Chris would be backing up from his earlier singles match, which he unfortunately lost, and if they won the first round doubles match they would have to play again that evening. Three matches in a day at Pro-Tour level is a tough ask.

Partner Chris O'Connell

Their opponents for this first round clash were fellow Aussies Blake Mott and Maverick Banes, who earlier in the day had played against each other in the QF round of the singles, with Mott the victor. Greg & Oaks were quick out of the blocks, breaking Mott and Banes in the first service game and then going 2-0 up. Mott and Banes hit back, breaks it back to level at 2-2. Greg and Oaks again broke their opponents but again were pegged back, and in the end were grateful to take the set to the tie-break after twice having the advantage in the set.

Maverick Banes

In the breaker it was Mott and Banes who got the early mini-break but Greg and Oaks broke back to change ends at 3-3. They then went ahead 5-3, and had a set point, only to be broken and again change ends level at 6-6. They proceeded to break their opponents again and this time, on their own serve, managed to secure the tie-break 8-6, winning the set 7-6.

Blake Mott

The second set was just as competitive, with both teams struggling to master the gusty wind conditions, and again it was Greg and Oaks who secured the first break of serve. Mott and Banes fought back and in a topsy-turvey set of five service breaks, it was Greg and Oaks who saved more break points, only getting broken twice to their opponents three times, to win the second set 6-3, and run out deserved winners having been ahead on the score board for much of the match. 
A good first up pairing for Greg and Chris the a solid straight sets win, with another match to come.

Australia in the Summer 2017 - Burnie #3

Burnie Tennis Centre

The blustery Burnie wind had built to almost gale force by the time Greg and his opponent, young 20 year old Australian Blake Mott, took to the court in the late afternoon. Mott had taken a short sabbatical from tennis, but having decided that tennis was better than renovating houses, he had returned to the courts and was in good form, surprising everyone by qualifying for the Australian Open main draw. Very similar to compatriot Alex Bolt, amazingly.
Serving first Greg had 40-15 in the first game but Mott pegged him back to deuce and then brought up four break points. Greg was unable to find a first serve but still managed to save three of the break points, but alas Mott won the game, taking an early advantage in the set. He held serve to love and then again brought up break point on Greg's serve, again converting to lead 3-0. Greg took the game to Mott but was unable to break Mott, who led 4-0, and went on to win the remainder of the games to win the first set decisively 6-0.

Australian Blake Mott

Greg readjusted and got his first serve firing, not easy in the extremely blustery conditions, and managed to get on the board at 1-0. Mott was also serving well, at above 70%, and together both players gave up no break-point opportunities in getting to 5-5. Then, despite starting the game with an ace, Greg was forced to face break point by Mott, and was unable to save the point, giving Mott a decisive break to lead 6-5. Greg desperately tried to fight back but a few close line calls went the way of Mott and Mott won the game, to win the second set 7-5 and the match 6-0, 7-5.
Not the best first set for Greg, who struggled to get his big game going in the high wind, and was unlucky not to get to the tie-break in the second set. Greg expressed his frustration with the wind afterwards and was hoping for better conditions for the doubles match scheduled for the next day.
Footnote: Mott continued his winning ways, getting to the final, where he lost to Omar Jasika in straight sets

Australia in the Summer 2017 - Burnie #2

Sunday in Burnie saw Greg waiting for the other matches to finish before taking to court in the late afternoon for the final qualifying round. Seeded No.4 Greg was up against another young Australian, 21 year old Jacob Grills, currently ranked 1033, but with a high rank of 529. Greg will have to serve well to be in this match.
And he did start well, holding serve to love, breaking Grills to love, then holding to love again, winning the first 14 points to go out to a 3-0 lead. Grills then managed to steady the ship, getting a few points on the board and winning the game to get on the board at 1-3. Then at 4-2, Greg stumbled, Grills forcing him to deuce, then breaking Greg on the third break point to get back on serve. Both players then held serve before Greg forced Grills to face set point at 4-5. Grills denied Greg, saving break point to level at 5-5, then going to the tie-break at 6-6.
In the tie-break it was Greg who got the first mini-break to change ends at 4-2. He the held serve and broke Grills again to have 4 set points at 6-2. But Grills had more to say, saving those points, denying Greg again to change ends at 6-6. Greg dug deep bringing up another set point st 7-6. Grills saved on his serve to level. Then Greg broke Grills to have another set point on his serve this time at 8-7, only for Grills to break back again to level to 8-8. Greg served to bring up his seventh set point at 9-8, this time breaking Grills serve again to win the tie-break 10-8, and the first set 7-6. Whew

Aussie Jacob Grills

After that hectic first set the serve stats of both players dropped to around 55% but games still went with serve until 3-2, Grills advantage. Then he forced Greg to defend three separate reak-points. Greg rose to the challenge, saving two, but was unable to prevent Grills from breaking, going 2-4 down in the process. Greg looked to be tiring as Grills raced to a 5-2 lead. Greg forced him to serve for the set by getting the score to 5-3. And he was not done in the set, breaking Grills to get back on serve at 5-4 and giving himself an opportunity to win the match in straight sets. He held serve with renewed vigour and then forced Grills to defend break-point at 5-5. Grills responded again though, denying Greg and winning the game to transfer the pressure onto Greg, forcing him to serve to stay in the set at 5-6. Greg recovered from 0-30 to get to game point but Grills levelled the score and brought up break-point, seizing the set point opportunity to win the set 7-5 and level the match at one set a piece.
So into the third set with Grills having the advantage of serving first, with new balls. But Greg had other ideas about that, attacking from the start of the set and breaking Grills, then holding serve to go 2-0 up. Greg then surprised Grills with some excellent serving, both players serving at over 70%, to only drop three points on his serve in the set, maintaining his break advantage over Grills to quickly get the score to 5-3. With Grills serving to stay in the set and the match, Greg applied pressure and forced Grills to 15-40, bringing up three set points. Greg gratefully converted at the first opportunity, winning the third set 6-3 and an eventful 2hour 35 minute match 76(8), 5-7, 6-3.
On reflection Greg could have won the first set a lot quicker after dominating the early part of the match and having six set points before thankfully winning the seventh, without giving up a set point against himself at the same time. He struggled to maintain any consistency and focus in the beginning of the second set, but was able to lift himself to challenge for the set in the latter stages, then was totally focussed and in the zone in the third, displaying good mental fortitude, resilience and a degree of match fitness after quite a long lay-off with injury.
And he qualified for the Main Draw for the singles.

Australia in the Summer 2017 - Burnie #1

After Auckland it was back to improving his fitness and constructive hitting for Greg. He also helped with some hitting with old friend, Brit Naomi Broady, who was playing in the Australian Open. Then it was off to the first of two Challenger tournaments in Tasmania, the first in Burnie, which had been the scene of two finals appearances for Greg, which must seem a lifetime ago for him, at least ten years on. This time though he was in the qualifying, not the Main Draw, so had some weekend work to get through.
Seeded No. 4, Greg first round opponent was 26 year old American Patrick Duriek, currently ranked 995 in singles. Serving first Greg got off to a good start, holding serve and breaking Duriek to get out to a 3-0 lead. Some good serving saw him carry his advantage through the set without giving a break point opportunity to the American, and winning the first set 6-3.
More good serving saw the score quickly get to 2-2 in the second set, then out of the blue, with Duriek serving at 30-0, Greg reeled off 8 points in a row to break Duriek and hold serve to love, to go a handy 4-2 up. He repeated the dose, again breaking Duriek to serve for the match at 5-2. A love game ensued for Greg to run out a 6-3, 6-2 winner.
First win of the year under the belt for Greg, which will help his confidence and give him more match practise, with the second round to be played on the same day. Not sure why...
His second round match was against a promising Australian teenager, 19 year-old Jake Delaney, already ranked a respectable 850 in the singles. With Delaney serving first, Greg again got off to a good start, breakin Delaney in the first game and holding to love to go 2-0 up. But Delaney hit back, holding serve and then breaking Greg to get back level at 2-2. With both serves dominating, games went with serve to the tie-breaker at 6-6. Greg was first to get an advantage, getting a mini-break on the first point, then serving only first serves in the tie-break, to effectively shut out Delaney and go 5-2 up. He then won the next two Delaney serves to pouch the tie-break 7-2, and the first set 7-6.
Serving first in the second set, Greg's serve percentage dropped, but he was still able to hold serve, then broke Delaney to go 3-1 up. Delaney fought back, getting Greg to deuce in the next game and forcing Greg to save two break-points, before Greg held dfor a 4-1 lead. At 5-2 up, Greg brought up match point on Delaney's serve but Delaney held firm, getting to 5-3 and forcing Greg to serve for the match. Which he did, winning the game to 15, to win the set 6-3 and a keenly contested match 7-6(2), 6-3.
Greg said he was pleased with getting two matches, with two wins under his belt.

Australia in the Summer 2017 - #1

Greg's plan for a solid off-season of fitness and training to be in top shape for the Australian Summer of 2017 were dashed in just his second week of his schedule when he suffered a small tear in his calf muscle, which required rest and physiotherapy. He was restricted to doing upper body training and swimming laps for fitness, not ideal in the tennis playing world. He started light hitting in the week before Christmas and was advised not to play at full pace until the New Year. He started running and had a few hitting sessions with Alex Vucic and Matt Barton in the weeks after Christmas and New Year and then headed off to the qualifying for the ATP250 tournament in Auckland last Thursday. Greg had managed to get into the qualifying draw, which is now limited to just 16 players, due to a number of late withdrawals.

His opponent for the first round was up and coming 18 year-old American Michael Mmoh, already ranked an impressive 197 in the ATP rankings, seeded No.3 for the qualifying. Greg's match was the fourth match on, and the Auckland breeze was pumping by the time the took to court in mid afternoon. With Mmoh serving first Greg started well, forcing Mmoh to deuce in the first game but unable to bring up break point, and then holding serve to love to level the score at 1-1. But Greg's lack of match practise of court time was soon evident, Momh holding easily and then breaking Greg to love to go 4-1 up. He broke Greg a second time to lead 5-1 and then serving out the set to love, 6-1.

USA's Michael Momh

Serving first in the second set Greg got to 40-15 quickly, but then was pegged back by Mmoh to face a break point. This time Greg was up to the challenge and saved break point and held serve to lead 1-0. He then forced Mmoh to face two break points at 15-40, but an ace and a good first serve and point by Mmoh denied Greg and Mmoh levelled at 1-1. He then broke Greg to love, returning exceptionally well as Greg served four consecutive first serves, to take the advantage at 2-1. Momh had the bit between his teeth now and the match unravelled quick for a rusty Greg, Mmoh breaking him twice more, despite Greg serving at a high percentage, to run out a 6-1, 6-1 winner.
Not the best match for the New Year for Greg, who was not at his best and quite underdone for the occasion. Much hard work still to be done after yet another injury. At least he was able to say that his mind and body came through the match ok.
Young Mmoh went on the qualify for the main draw of the tournament, beating former top twenty player Jersy Janowitz, also on the come-back trail after injury, in straight sets.
A brief Wikipedia overview:
"Michael Mmoh is a Saudi Arabian-born American tennis player of Irish and Nigerian ancestry. Mmoh is the reigning USTA junior national champion. He has won 1 ATP Challenger title and 4 ITF Futures tournaments, including his first at the age of 16."