Oz Summer 2012-13 #1

 Greg arrived back in Sydney on Saturday morning and to cap off the year he has had, his racquet bag was not on the flight. Luckily he did not need his tennis gear immediately, as he was having a well earned break. The bag arrived on Monday afternoon, in time for him to represent the "ATP Sydney" team in the new Asia-Pacific Tennis League, playing in the NSW Conference. Greg had committed to playing for them, if his schedule permitted and it did. It would also give him the opportunity to test his injured elbow.
A team format competition based loosely on the USA Team Tennis model, with best of 4 sets, sudden death deuces and short tie-breaks, each round consists of 4 singles and 2 doubles matches. The competition has about 6 conferences on 4-5 teams each, split up into the States and a conference from Asia. The finalists of the competition play the final in the second week of the Australian Open.

Greg's team comprised ATP players Adam Feeney, Matt Barton, Nick Lindahl and himself, ex-players Luke Bourgious and Ryan Henry and a couple of promising young players Alex Silcock and Mitchell?, most of whom Greg new well.
Up again the Campbelltown Wizards, Feeney started first and sneaked a 3 set win in a very close, highly entertaining match. On the adjoining court Barton wrapped up his match in two sets. Greg was then up against ex-top 100 player Mark Tebbutt, now in his 40's. Tebbutt had a powerful accurate game but Greg had too much power and moved too well to be troubled, using his big serve to good effect to win the match 4-1, 4-2. Silcock came from a set down to win his match in three sets, to put the ATP Sydney an unassailable lease with the doubles matches still to be played.
The coaches them took to the court, with Henry and Bourgeois winning their match comfortably in straight sets but the youngsters went down to the aging Wizards doubles specialists. The ATP Sydney team winning the tie 5-1 to maintain their lead in the NSW Conference.
Unfortunately for him Greg's elbow is still not properly repaired, troubling him on the night and affecting his ability to play at 100%, so more rehabilitation needed.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #13

Champaign Illinois was the location for the next Challenger tournament on the USA Pro Tour, the last event for the year. This week there were enough withdrawals to see Greg progress up the alternative list to be part of the Main Draw, so a good opportunity for him.
His troublesome inflamed elbow had settled down but he was not able to get as much practise time on court as he would have liked as it is an indoor venue and the number of courts limited availability once qualifying had commenced.

Champaign street scene

Still a bit underdone going into his first match, Greg's opponent was 21 year-old American and wild card recipient Chase Buchanan, from Ohio, currently ranked 440. With a win against Buchanan this year, it was a good draw for Greg.

Champaign at night

With Greg serving first both players dropped serve early in the set in getting to 3-3. Greg saved a break-point to get to 4-3 and then forced Buchanan to break-point, converting the opportunity to lead 5-3. Greg struggled to serve out the set but finally got the job done to win the set 6-3.

Greg's serve deserted him in the second set, and showed on the scoreboard. Serving a miserly 36% and not winning a high percentage of those, he dropped his serve twice, but also managed to break Buchanan twice to again get to 3-3. Buchanan held serve and then broke Greg again, serving out the set at 5-3, to win the set 6-3 and level the match at one set all. 

The indoor courts

If the 2nd set was a break-a-thon, the 3rd set was even more amazing. Greg struggled to hold his serve in the first game but after a few deuces held serve. He then broke Buchanan and held serve again to lead 3-0. Another break of serve saw him get a comfortable two break buffer and jump to a 4-0 lead. But Buchanan was not done. Capitalising on a poor game from Greg, Buchanan broke back and, gaining some momentum, then held serve to get to 4-2. He then again broke Greg to get back on serve at 4-3. An increasingly nervous Greg responded and had three break points on Buchanan in the next game at 0-40. Buchanan was up to the challenge and luck deserted Greg, with Buchanan saving all three opportunities and levelled the score at 4-4.

Chase Buchanan

Greg's confidence was on the wain, longwith his serve, and he dropped his serve for the third game in a row, to trail 4-5. Buchanan served out the set, remarkably winning 6 games in a row, to win the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Greg was bitterly disappointed and upset with his 3rd set meltdown. Down in confidence from his litany of injuries, lack of match play and recent poor results, he said he was amazed at how "tight" he became in that set, affecting his ability to Steve and play.
An inauspicious end to tournaments for this year. Roll on a better year in 2013.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #12

The second round of qualifying for the Knoxville Challenger saw a still sore Greg taking on 26 year-old Australian and good friend, Adam Hubble, who is an ex-College player, also from the University of Tennessee. More of a doubles specialist these days, with an ATP doubles ranking of 165, Hubble is also a handy singles player, albeit ranked 1294, who will trouble a less than 100% fit Greg.

Vols Adam Hubble

Greg struggled with his serve in the first set, serving at below 50% first serve and winning only half the points he served. He managed to stay with Hubble in the rallies and broke Hubble twice in the first set but he was unable to stop Hubble bringing up five break-point opportunities on Greg's serve, breaking him three times to win the first set 6-4.

Billboard featuring Australian
JP Smith, a record setting
champion Vols player

Greg's serving improved in the second set but so did Hubble's play and only one break-point opportunity was created in the set. Unfortunately it was against Greg and Hubble gratefully converted that single opportunity to break Greg and then hold serve for the set, winning the set 6-4 and the match 6-4, 6-4.
Greg said he was able only to serve at below normal capacity, just starting the point, and was hampered by his elbow injury on the back-hand side, but that was not enough to match a fully fit Hubble.
Greg is again going to rest and treat his inflamed albow and then assess the situation before committing to the next tournament in Champaign, Illinois.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #11

Greg was able to stay in Charlottesville for the week, giving his inflamed elbow some much needed physiotherapy and rest, thanks to the hospitality of the Butler's, a family Greg says are wonderful to stay with. He also got some advice from a doctor, had an x-ray and an MRI, all of which pointed to no mechanical damage but severe inflammation and swelling of the elbow joint, which should repair with rest.
However, Greg decided in Friday that, as he was only two out if the Knoxville Challenger main draw he would travel to the Knoxville in the hope he made the draw. That would mean he would only have to play on Tuesday, so giving the elbow more time to repair. 

Knoxville river view

As it turned out, Greg was unlucky as two player's ahead of him on the list did pull out but a player with a protected ranking, who had been injured for more than six months got the final place in the draw and Greg missed the main draw by one place. However he decided his elbow was feeling good enough to play, although playing would be a gamble in itself as he had not hit a ball for over a week. 

Mikelis Libietis

Seeded no. 3 in the qualifying draw Greg's opponent was 20 year-old University of Tennessee player Mikelis Libietis, from Latvia, currently ranked 1624 on the ATP rankings. A potentially easy match which Greg, if fit, could use to play himself into form but as a college player will be a unknown quantity.

Greg and Libietis swopped breaks of serve in the first set, Greg saving two other break point opportunities against him, in getting to 5-5. Greg then held serve to lead 6-5 and put the pressure on Libietis to hold serve. Greg brought up break-point and converted to pouch the 1st set 7-5. Serving first in the 2nd set, Greg went 2-1 up on serve and then broke Libietis to lead 3-1, then 4-1. Libietis fought back, holding serve to get to 4-2 then forcing Greg to 15-40. Greg was able to save those points and was relieved to get to 5-2. At 5-3 Greg was able to serve out the set 6-3, winning the match 6-4, 6-3.

Hope Greg's inflamed elbow held up for the match and is ok for the next round.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #10

After  a week training and coaching with Todd Martin Greg said he was hitting the ball sweetly, the best he had all year, and was looking forward taking to the court for some tournament play. Then, with three days to go with Todd, Greg experienced an intense pain in his right elbow. Out of nowhere, with no obvious impact or strain, his elbow was suddenly very sore and after trying to flex the arm and hit away the pain, Greg was forced to stop and treat the elbow with ice. They had to adjourn the training for the day and after a good's night's rest Greg hoped it would be better but it was not to be. He was forced to rest the arm and not hit for the next two days and headed for the next tournament in Charlottesville, Florida.

Charlottesville Street scene

Greg agonized on whether his elbow was better or still too sore to compete. He eventually decided to try and play and signed in for qualifying.
His 1st round opponent was 23 year-old Hawaiin Dennis Lajola, currently ranked 600, near his recent high rank of 535 in September this year. Lajola has recently finished a four year stint at college in Hawaii where he was the Western Conference Athlete of the year in 2011, so has only just started playing in the tour full-time.

The Indoor Courts at Boar's Head
Tennis Centre

It was not the best decision of Greg to play the match as he could not play to optimum capacity and was not able to serve at full pace due to his sore elbow, nor play his normal back court shots. He dropped serve twice in the first set to Lajola, losing the set 2-6. In the second Greg struggled to hold serve, saving break-points to get to 1-1 before he retired injured, forfeiting the match to Lajola.

Dennis Lajola

Greg is now going to take a week off to rest the injured elbow, and will have x-rays and an MRI to assess if there is any damage to his elbow, which he said is now more sore than previously. More than likely that will be the last match Greg will play on the regular tour this season. He will most probably return home to Sydney and give his elbow time to repair before preparing for the hard yakka he has to do next year in order to retrun his ranking to the levels it was previously, and continue the challenge to get a top 100 ranking.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #9

Greg enjoying LA

After the disappointment of not qualifying for the Tiburon Challenger Greg travelled back to Los Angeles to hook up with his mate and sometimes hitting partner David Bidmeade. 

David and lots of food



David had been to a wedding in  Las Vegas and was spending a week with his friend Guy in L.A. and it was a good opportunity for Greg to get some good hitting, along with some relaxed company and see the sights of L.A.

LA's beaches



Guy was keen to show them around and Greg and David enjoyed some of the better things which L.A. had to offer other than Universal Studios and the glitz of Hollywood Boulevarde.



Tasty Cuisine

Guy showed them different places off the beaten tourist track as well as taking them to some good beachside resraurants in Newport and Laguna. Greg said it was very great. They would practise early then hit the town for lunch, stuff their faces and then come back for some hittings, before going somewhere else for a sundowner, then dinner.

Personality Pug

Guy, who is also Australian, is engaged to a local girl Adine and Greg, who is not normally fond of animals, said they had the cutest little pug dog with the best personality.

Greg in Florida at a Jaguars NFL game

After a hectic few days, Greg then headed back to Ponte Vedra in Florida, for a calmer environment and more coaching with Todd Martin. He said it was good to get some quiet time after LA and to re-charge the batteries. Greg plans to train with Todd for 10 ten days before heading to Charlottesville, Virginia for the first of three indoor Challenger tournaments, where he will have to go through qualifying to play in the main draw.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #8

The Tiburon Peninsula Club

The final round of qualifying in Tiburon had Greg facing one of the 2012 Wimbledon doubles title holders, Denmark's Frederik Nielsen. The 29 year-old Dane, along with England 's Jamie Marray, was a surprise entrant, never mind winner, in the doubles at the All England Tennis and Croquet Club, the pair becoming the first Wild Card recipients to win the Doubles Title. A veteran of the tour Nielsen's singles rank belies his talent, ranked 364, despite having represented Denmark in the Hopman Cup tournament in Perth this year. A hot and cold big serving player, Nielsen will be a tough opponent.
The first set was a closely contested match with the players swopping breaks of serve. Greg managed to conjure up 8 breaks of serve opportunities in the set but luck was not going his way and hecould only convert a single opportunity. He had the better of the play but it was Nielsen who broke Greg a second time to take a 5-3 lead in the set and served it out to win the set 6-3.

Frederik at left with Brit Jamie Marray
celebrating their Wimbledon Doubles
Title victory

Greg was determined to stay in the match and immediately hit back, breaking Nielsen in the opening game of the second set. But despite Greg serving well, with a high percentage of first serves, Nielsen was returning equally as well and he broke back immediately to level at 1-1. Nielsen held serve and then broke Greg again to go a break up at 4-1, games then going with serve to 5-3. With Nielsen serving for the match Greg got him to deuce but was unable to bring upa a break point opportunity and the Wimdbledon doubles title holder won the set 6-3 and the match 6-3, 6-3 to proceed to the Main Draw of the singles at Greg's expense.
Greg was disappointed but said that he had played and served well but Nielsen's good returning had put him under a lot of pressure and made a big difference on the day.
Greg will now travel to Los Angles to join his good David Bidmeade for a few days hitting before going back to Ponte Vedra in Florida for ten days to work with coach Todd Martin. He then plans to play three indoor Challenger events in the USA, where he will be required to go through qualifying to enter the main draw.

USA in the Autumn 2012 #7

View of the Tiburon Peninsula,
north of San Fransisco 

In the second round of qualifying in Tiburon Greg was up against another US ex-college player 23 year old Drew Courtney, unranked in the ATP. Courtney was ranked in the top 20 nationally and has a decent doubles ranking at 229, but it is a  match Greg, seeded 6, would expect to win unless Courtney is an as yet untapped talent. 

Drew Courtney



Greg started well, holding serve and breaking Courtney in his first service game to lead 2-0. Greg then went walk-about and at 40-0 on his serve lost 5points in a row and dropped his serve. He hit back immediately, breaking Courtney to lead 3-1, games then going with serve to 5-2. Greg then again broke serve to win the set 6-2 and serve first in the 2nd set.

It was Courtney's turn to hit back and, helped by a lack of concentration on Greg' part, he broke Greg and held serve to lead 2-0. Greg re-focussed, held serve and then broke back, games going with serve to 5-5. Greg then held to lead 6-5 and put the pressure on Courtney to serve to stay on the match. He buckled and Greg broke to win the game, the set 7-5 and the match 6-2, 7-5.
Greg said he was never in trouble in the match but did lack concentration at times, something he will need to tighten up.