USA Tour Autumn 2012 #3



Mountain backdrop of Indian Wells

After his close loss in the qualifying at Indian Wells, Greg was back on the training court but his left leg was still giving him a lot of pain. After consultation with the tournament physios Greg had an MRI scan done on the troublesome knee last Friday, which indicated that he probably had inflammation on the tendon where it inserts into bone below the knee but there was no evidence of any damage to the bone. So good news and bad news. The prognosis is that, in order to improve, the leg needs complete rest and then some physio to restore strength and fitness.

Melbourne on the Yarra River

So Greg has stopped training and has withdrawn from the Challenger tournament in Mexico. He is flying back to Melbourne for a couple of weeks of rest and physio. If the leg repairs, and after suitable tests, he will then be able to resume tennis and fitness training to get his fitness and form back before he re-commences tournament play.
Good luck Greg. We hope the leg gets better and that it is only a small blip in your career. Enjoy the break from tennis.

USA Tour Autumn 2012 #2

After more rest and a few days hitting Greg decided to contest the Qualifying for the Indian Wells ATP 500 tournament. He was not lucky in the draw though, getting matched up against the No.2 seed in qualifying, 25 year-old German Tobias Kamke, currently ranked 88. Greg recently played against Kamke, going down in straight sets to the German in the final round of qualifying in Brisbane in early January. A tough match for his first encounter for three weeks.
Greg served first in the 1st set, in gusty wind conditions, and it was he who was playing better in the first set, creating a break point opportunity at 3-2. He was not able to convert and Kamke held serve, games going with serve to 5-4, Greg leading. Greg then pressurised Kamke and forced a break point opportunity to win the set. Kamke's nerve held but two more break-point opportunities saw Greg win the game, and the 1st set 6-4.
Greg could not maintain the intensity and Kamke came storming back, breaking Greg's serve at 1-1, then holding, before breaking again to take a decisive 4-1 lead. Greg was not able to make any in-roads into Kamke's serve in the 2nd set, and Kamke held again to go 5-1 up. Greg forced Kamke to serve out the set at 2-5, which he duly did, winning the set 6-2 and levelling the match at 4-4.

German Tobias Kamke

Both players were struggling to serve in the windy conditions and at 1-1 Kamke again forced Greg to save a break pint opportunity, then converted another opportunity to go a brrak-up at 2-1. Greg hit back in the bery next game, breaking Kamke to level at 2-2, then held serve, games going with serve to 4-4. It was the business end of the match and Greg felt the pressure of not having any matches under the belt for the past three weeks, fitness lacking as well. Kamke upped the ante and forced Greg to break-point, converting to go 5-4 up. Greg was unable to break Kamke as he served for the match and Kamke won the 3rd set 6-4 and a closely fought tussel 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Whilst bitterly disappointed with the loss, Greg can take a lot from the match. He had improved vastly on his last showing against Kamke, when not having played or trained properly for three weeks. Hopefully his leg held up well and he will recover quickly from the match.

USA Tour Autumn 2012 #1

It has been a frustrating three weeks for Greg who has been struggling to recover from an annoying injury to to his left leg. After the Caloundra Challenger tournament, where he played with the injury, an inflammation of a tendon where it inserts into the bone just below his left knee, Greg received a cortisone injection in the area of the injury and had a few days of rest to let the cortisone take effect. After a week off he then headed for Jacksonville, Florida for a training session under the guidance of ex-tour player, former No.4 ranked Todd Martin. Greg was accompanied by fellow Australian Marinko Matosevic, who hit with Greg while Todd provided coaching.

During those four days Greg's injury flared up again and he did not get as much on court training as he would have liked. He and Marinko then went to Delray Beach in Florida for the qualifying of an ATP250 tour event. Seeded No.6 in the qualifying, Greg had a favourable draw but was not able to compete, withdrawing due to the injury. Greg was then forced to watch from the sidelines the whole week while he treated the injury with ice-packs, inflammatories and rest. 

Marinko Matosevic

On the Friday of the third week Greg then left for Indian Wells where he had made the cut for qualifying for the ATP500 tournament, which commences on Tuesday (USA time). He will be joined by Tennis Australia coach Joshua Eagle, with a decision still to be made whether Greg's leg has recovered enough, and also whether he had enough hitting behind him and is fit enough to compete at that level. Otherwise he might just give his leg more time to heal, before a tournament in Mexico next week or return home for more treatment.

Marinko wins semi-final

While Greg was resting up in Delray Beach, his mate Marinko was having the best tournament of his life, qualifying for the Main Draw, then recording victories over big serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic, No.6 seed Alex Bogomolov, last years winner Ernest Gulbis and Israeli Dudi Sela to reach his first ATP tour final. Marinko was on a 12 match winning streak, having won the Caloundra Challenger, qualifying and reaching the final. In a great fighting match Marinko was not able to extend the streak, losing a close final 46, 67 to big serving South African Kevin Anderson. Well done Marinko, who rises to his best ranking at 129.
Let's hope Greg's leg responds to treatment and rest and is able to continue playing this session in America.

Australian Summer 2012 #17

Finals day in the Challenger and Greg, having beaten the No. 1 seed in the semi was now up against the No.2 seed, 26 year-old Meburnian Marinko Matosevic, currently ranked 200 with a high ranking of 131 in 2011.

Greg serving

With Greg serving first, it was a nervous start for Greg and despite having a game point, Matosevic got Greg to deuce and then proceeded to break Greg, to take an early 1-0 lead. Matosevic continued on confidently, holding serve and then breaking Greg again to lead 3-0. Showing signs of stiffnes and discomfort from his previous two 3 set matches, Greg could not make any in-roads into Matosevic's serve and when Greg dropped serve for the 3rd straight service game to trail 5-0, the writing was on the wall for the 1st set. Marinko served out the sixth game to hand Greg a rare "bagel", 6-0 in the first set. Was Greg's injured knee tendon hampering him?

Marinko Matosevic

The second set started no better for Greg, who was put under pressure by Matosevic from the first point and, playing catch-up, was not able to hold serve, Matosevic breaking to lead 1-0, then 2-0. Greg finally steadied the ship and registered on the score-board, holding serve for the first time and winning his first game of the match. At a set and 1-2 down, could he now apply anough pressure on Matosevic and get back in the match?
The next game went to three deuces but still Marinko prevailed, holding serve eventually to go 3-1 up. Greg then failed to close out his next game and Matosevic was again able to get Greg to deuce and then break Greg for the 2nd time in this set, on the back of a low percentage 1st serve stat for Greg, and take a decisive 4-1 lead. Matosevic held for 5-1, then Greg held serve, forcing Matosevic to serve out the match, at 5-2. Greg was unable to prevent Matosevic from winning the last game, for a comprehensive 6-0, 6-2 win in the final. Well done Marinko.
Greg was never in the match, which Matosevic dominated from the first game. Greg tried to get back into the match but did not serve well at all, and was shut-out by Marinko, who served well enough to deny Greg any break-point opportunities. Not the best day at the office for Greg, who no doubt was struggling today after two mammoth three set matches on the previous days. But overall a great week for Greg, and for Tennis Austrlia coach Josh Eagle, who coaches both players.

Australian Summer 2012 #16

It was the weekend and Greg was in the semi-finals of the Challenger in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. His opponent was the No.1 seed from Taipei, Yen-Hsun Lu, currently ranked 62, with a high ranking of 33 in 2010. A formidable opponent who beat Greg last year in their only previous encounter.

Greg served first and serves dominated  with both players serving a high percentage first sets, neither giving up a break-point opportunity in the first 7 games, Greg leading 4-3. Greg was winning more of Lu's service points and the pressure told in the next game, with Greg getting Lu to 30-40 and breaking his serve to lead 5-3. Lu fought back getting Greg to 0-30 but Greg won the next four points to win the first set 6-3.

Yen-Hsun Lu at Caloundra



Both players again held serve well, taking the 2nd set score to 2-2, Lu serving first. Lu was then forced to save a break point to get to 3-2 and had Greg facing two break-points in the next game. Greg dug deep and saved that game, levelling at 3-3. Both players were showing the strain and some fatigue due to injuries they were carrying, going down 0-30 on their following service games but recovering to takes the set to 6-6 and the tie-break. Greg won Lu's opening serve but could not consolidate, going to 2-1 up. Both players then dropped a serve, changing ends with Greg 4-2 up. Lu then came-out firing, breaking back and holding serve to go, 5-4, then a mini-break up at 6-4. Greg saved the first set point bu could not stop Lu, on his serve, from winning the tie-break 7-5, and the second set 7-6. And so to the 3rd set.

A focused Greg

After four deuces in the first game of the second set Greg managed to hold serve. Lu then came out and served at a ridiculous 90 percent of firsts serves and, with Greg winning most of his serves, the set flew by until 4-3. Greg started to make in-roads into Lu's serve but neither player offered up a break-point opportunity in the set, taking the set to 6-6 and a third set tie-break, after an exhausting 2 hours and 46 minutes.
Serving first, Greg got the first mini-break to lead 2-1, then 3-1. Lu broke back for 3-2 but Greg matched him, breaking again to change ends at 4-2 up. At 4-3 up, unlike in the first set, Greg held both his next serves taking the score to 6-3, having 3 match points, but on Lu's serve. Greg broke Lu again, to record his first win over a top 100 ranked player, and win the tie-break 7-3, and a marathon three set match 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) to advance to the final.
A great match for Greg, who played well, hung in the match when it mattered, did not let the seond set loss get to him and matched Lu in the third set, displaying good character and mental toughness, as well as fitness, to eventually emerge the winner. It will be Greg's fourth ATP Challenger final and he will be hoping to get a win.

Australian Summer 2012 #15

The quarter-final round of the Caloundra Challenger brought together the same two players who faced each other in the 1st round of the previous tournament in Burnie, with Greg the loser. 22 year-old Australian John Millman, currently ranked 510, leads the head-to-head 4-2 in Futures and Challenger tournaments, and will start favourite for this match after his straight sets win over Greg last week.

Pensive Greg

Millman served first and both players held serve to 3-2. Greg then played a loose game to fall 0-40 behind, managing to save one breakpoint before Millman broke to lead 4-2 and then win the set 6-3. The match was going according to script.

The trend continued in the second set, Greg serving first, as Millman broke to go 2-1 up. Greg then decided to alter the script and broke back immediately to level at 2-2. Greg held serve to love and then proceeded to break Millman again to lead 4-2. Greg held his nerve serving at 5-3, when Millman saved three set points and then forced Greg to save a break-point, before Greg prevailed and won the set 6-3, to tie the match at 1 set all. An epic match was unfolding.

John Millman at Brisbane

The third set promised to be a thriller. Greg was the first to take the advantage, coming from 15-40 down on Millman's serve to break at the second opportunity, to lead 2-1. Greg held and then quickly had Millman facing another 3 break-points at 0-40. Greg broke again and led 4-1 with a double break. But "Road Runner" Millman was not done, breaking back one serve immediately, and hold serve to love, to keep the pressure on Greg at 4-3. Greg held for a 5-3 lead and quickly brought up 3 match points with Millman serving at 0-40. But Millman served 11 out of 12 first serves in the game to save those break points and then another, to hold serve and force Greg to serve for the match. Was Jonesie up to it?

Greg at Australian Open

Millman was smiling as Greg went 0-40 down and faced three break-points. Greg then emulated Millman, saving those break-points to get to deuce and then bring up his 5th match point. This time he converted, to win the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and advance to the semi-final, getting his revenge for last week's loss to Millman  and closing the head-to-head to 4-3.

Well done Greg, who displayed great fortitude and metal strength in the match, which waxed and waned continually in the favour of both players, especially at the end of that topsy-turvy third set.

Australian Summer 2012 #14

The second round of the Challenger tournament in Caloundra had Greg facing up against Australian tennis prodigy, 17 year-old South Australian Luke Saville, who boasts both the 2011 Junior Wimbledon and the Junior Australian 2012 singles title. Saville, who resembles Greg in both build and colouring, has not had much success on the Mens Futures circuit and his win in the 1st round here will help progress his rise up the ATP rankings from his current rank of 1168. Greg will be hoping to delay his rise any further.

Luke Saville at Wimbledon

Saville served first and held serve, and then had Greg, who was struggling with his serve, at 30-40. Greg managed to hold for 1-1, then immediately reversed fortunes by breaking Saville and, despite his service woes continuing, held serve get to 4-2 up. Greg then again broke Saville and served out the set 6-2. 

Luke at Caloundra



Greg again started the 2nd set serving at below 50%, whilst Saville was at a high 91% . Greg suddenly improved and started serving well above 80%, not allowing Saville a look-in on his serve. Midway through the set, at 3-all, Greg upped the intensity, breaking Saville to love and then holding serve to love, to lead 5-3. Greg again got Saville to 0-40 in the next game, and while Saville managed to save one match point, Greg prevailed, winning the set 6-3 and the match 6-2, 6-3.

Greg said his game had improved throughout the match. He only lost one point on his serve in the 2nd set and won over 60% of Saville's serve points, so dominated the set. He thought Saville still had to get to grips with the pace of the Men's game and needed to improve his court coverage and return of serve.

Greg has elected not to play doubles this week and has a welcome day's break from competition tomorrow, when he can get treatment for a knee tendon problem he has been nursing. He can also enjoy the benefits of the Sunshine Coast, sharing an apartment right on the beach in beautiful Caloundra, and spend some time on the beach and in the surf.

Australian Summer 2012 #13



Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane, was the setting for the second Challenger Tournament on the 2012 Australian Circuit.

In a tournament with a very lowly ranking tournament cut, Greg, currently ranked at 216, was seeded No.4. His first round opponent was 23 year-old Michael Look from Brisbane.

A USA College graduate, Look has been playing on the Men's Circuit for just over a year and has slowly increased his ranking to 323 this week. In their early teens Look was a thorn in the side for Greg, who was beaten by Look numerous times in National tournaments. 

With Greg serving first, both players held serve well in the first 5 games when Greg brought up a break point opportunity on Look's serve and converted to go 4-2 up. Greg was then able to hold serve and serve out the set 6-3.

Michael Look



Look and Greg again both held serve well in the 2nd set, getting to 3-3. Greg again took advantage of the only break-point of the set and broke to lead 4-3, then 5-3. He confidently served out the set for a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Greg did not give up a break point opportunity and took both of his only opportunites, in a close match. Greg did say that he felt that he was always in control and the match was his to win, or lose.

A modicum of revenge for Greg for those early teen year losses to Michael.