Australian Summer - West Lakes #1

After returning from Burnie Greg consulted with the Tennis Australia's doctor about his troublesome shoulder injury. After examination and some rudimentary testing the prognosis was that in the Doctor's opinion there was no structural damage and the problem was just continuing inflammation which needed a prolonged period of rest, with no tennis or stressful use, to recover. The Doctor said that if Greg so desired he could play West Lakes in Adelaide then have a period of recovery, as after this Challenger there were only a few Futures tournaments in Australia and Greg could have the time to recover then. Greg was hoping for another good draw, as he received in Burnie and perhaps to win a round or two and gain valuable points. So off he travelled to Adelaide to compete again with a less than adequate service action.

Aerial view of Westlakes, Adelaide

Greg was seeded No. 8 for the tournament and did receive a good draw, wild card teenager, 18 year-old Tasmanian Harry Bourchier, brother of Eddie who played on the juniors with Greg. Currently at his highest ranking of 1223, Harry is one of the aspiring young Australians just starting out on the circuit and Greg would be confident of winning this match, if 100% fit.
The weather gods delivered a shocker for the first day of play, the wind blowing through at 35kph with gusts of 50-60kph, not conducive to good tennis and it showed on the court, both players battling to cope and balls flying to all corners, with plenty of shanked and missed shots.
With Bourchier serving first, games went to 2-2, with a few double faults thrown in by both players. Greg then broke Bourchier but was then forced to 15-40 himself. He managed to rescue that game to go 4-2 up. At 4-3 Greg was forced to 15-40 but again saved the break with a string of good first serves, saving three break points in a long deuce game, to maintain his advantage at 5-3 up. Greg then had a break point/set point on Bourchier's serve but he was unable to convert and Bourchier held serve to get to 5-4. He then broke a faltering Greg, who served two double faults in the game, to level the game at 5-5. Greg never gave up and in another long deuce game, again broke Bourchier to give himself another chance to serve for the set at 6-5 up. But four second serves and another double fault saw Greg facing 15-40. He saved one break point but was unable to save the second, the set levelled at 6-6.

Tasmanian Harry Bourchier

In the tie-break there were double faults and breaks of serve aplenty, but it was Bourchier who won the crucial points at the end of the tie-break, winning it 7-5 and with it the first set 7-6.With Greg serving first in the second set games went to 1-1, when Bourchier broke Greg to love, with Greg really struggling with his serve in the wind. Greg then took an injury time out and had some massage on his troublesome shoulder. He came back fighting and broke Bourchier to level at 2-2. But he still could not serve well and in another long deuce game again lost his serve, to trail 2-3. He again fought back, earning another break point but this time Bourchier saved and held serve to lead 4-2, games going with serve to 5-3. Greg needed to hold serve to force Bourchier to serve for the match but he was unable to, saving one match point before Bourchier prevailed, winning the game, set and match 7-6, 6-3.
Video taken on the way to the match.
Greg was not happy. He had gambled on getting a good draw to win a round or two but the weather had made the task of serving even harder, the games longer than he planned and he said that his shoulder had got sore and his arm felt like it was falling off. He is going back to Melbourne immediately and is going to rest the shoulder, with no tennis for at least two weeks and work with the physios to get his shoulder right and his fitness back to where it should be before playing again.

 

Australian Summer 2014 - Burnie International #2

The second round of the Challenger tournament saw Greg, seeded No.8, facing up against fellow NSW player and sometimes training partner, 22 year-old Matt Barton, currently ranked 273, with a high ranking of 201. Barton had a very successful start to the year in Australia last year but then did not have any success for the rest of the year, being off for extended periods during the year with knee tendonitis. As Greg is also coming back from injury and still suffering from his shoulder injury it should be a close contest, although Greg will be confident of getting a win.

With Barton serving first Greg was quickly on the attack, breaking him in the first game. Barton hit back and forced Greg to save break points in his next two service games, but Greg was up to the task, holding serve and getting the score to 3-1. Greg then had another opportunity to break and go further ahead but a missed volley saw him lose the point, games going to 4-2. Greg then had Barton looking at 0-40 and three break points but four aces in five serves saw Barton squeak out again and go to 3-4. Then in a sloppy game, Greg produced some careless errors and dropped serve on the back of a double fault to allow Barton to level at 4-4. Greg's serving stats were dropping, as was his second serve speed, which was a worry, but his all court game was still good. A disputed line call, when Greg's lob over Barton hit the baseline, presented Greg with another break-point opportunity and he broke the disgruntled Barton to lead 5-4 and serve for the set, which Greg did winning the first set 6-4.

Matt Barton (pic courtesy of Aceland)

Both Barton and Greg saved a break point in getting to 3-3 in the second set. Greg was starting to show visible signs of distress on his second serve and it showed in his game, Barton getting Greg to 0-40. Greg fought off those break-points to get back to deuce but was unable to prevent Barton from getting another opportunity and converting to lead 4-3, then 5-2. Greg held serve to force Barton to serve for the set, then managed to get Barton to deuce, but in a mutiple five deuce game was unable to bring up break-point, Barton winning the game and the set 6-3.
Greg took a medical time-out and got treatment on his right shoulder during the second set and it continued to trouble him through the rest of the match.
At 1-1 in the third set, with Greg serving first, Barton got Greg to 0-40 and looked certain to break but Greg produced some good first serves and denied Barton. He then broke Barton to lead 3-1. Barton was not done and, with Greg struggling to serve, broke back immediately, Greg venting his frustration by yelling. Barton held to level at 3-3, then Greg inexplicably served four aces to get the score to 4-3. He then again broke Barton to lead 5-3 and serve for the match. But again he was unable to hold serve (needing some of those aces in this game), and Barton again denied him, breaking Greg again to get to 4-5. Greg continued to attack and forced Barton to 30-40, to bring up a match point but an ace by Barton saw Greg denied the win, Barton winning the game to draw level again at 5-5, games going with serve to the tie-break at 6-6.
Down on power on his serve it was a frustrated Greg who could not serve at his best and fell behind on the points count in the tie-break against a free-serving Barton, who got over the line in the tie-break7-4, winning a very tight, long, hard fought match 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4).
A frustrating match for Greg who fought hard and had his chances but was increasingly frustrated by his inability to serve at his normal pace due to the continuing shoulder injury. Greg will now return to Melbourne to have his shoulder assessed again by the Tennis Australia doctor, and receive further further advice and treatment to continue his rehabilitation and get him back to 100 percent performance.

Australian Summer 2014 – Burnie International #1

Following his first round loss in the Australian Open qualifying Greg decided to get more treatment on his injured shoulder, having a cortisone injection into the tendon and then no playing or training for a week. In the next week he then slowly started playing and training, doing exercises to rehabilitate his shoulder, and make it stronger. He said it still feels “loose” but is feeling more normal every day and is not painful, but that could just be the cortisone masking any pain.


Burnie Tennis Centre

On Saturday he decided he would travel to Burnie to play and see how the shoulder stands up to a more rigorous test. Due to a couple of late minute withdrawals Greg is seeded No. 8 for the singles and thus avoided meeting another seed in the first two rounds. His first round opponent was 28 year old Czech Roman Vogeli, who himself has been out of tennis with an injury and, now with no ATP ranking, had gained entry into the tournament using a special protected ranking. His high rank for singles is 410, so it is a match a fully fit Greg would be expected to win.

Article in The Advocate

Serving first Greg held serve then immediately had Vogeli facing two break points. Vogeli rallied and saved the break point to get to deuce but Greg was not to be denied, winning the next two points to gain the break of serve, then consolidating to lead 3-0. At 4-1 Vogeli again faced break points but this time denied Greg, saving three break points to hold and get to 4-2. Games then went quickly with serve, Vogeli unable to prevent Greg from winning the set 6-3.

Czech Roman Vogeli

Vogeli was quick out of the blocks in the second set, holding serve to love in the opening game but Greg held serve as well, then broke Vogeli  to lead 2-1. Vogeli fought back getting forcing Greg to face a break point in the next game but Greg held firm to lead 3-1. Back in the groove Greg was now on a roll, breaking Vogeli twice more, winning six games in a row, to win the second set 6-1 and the match 6-3, 6-1.

A comprehensive win for Greg and a nice easy first up match back. He served well and won a high percentage of both his first and second sets but he says the shoulder still does not right. So the jury is still out on whether he has fully recovered.

Due to his shoulder problem Greg has decided not to contest the doubles in this tournament.

Australian Summer 2014 - AO Qualifying #1

After not playing a tennis match for almost three months, Greg was primed to go, if not in the best shape due to his spate of injuries, for the first round of the Qualifying Tournament for the Australian Open 2014. Having recovered from the bulging disc in his back, then the dislocation of his right knee, he suffered an injury to his right shoulder rotator cuff, which has proved to be the most troublesome. He lost a lot of his fitness due to the back injury, then his knee injury and, the start of his training block was severely delayed, then hampered by his shoulder injury. He only recommenced serving   on the last weekend and then could only serve first serves, his second serve action causing him pain on each serve. Yet he was playing his ground shots well and was confident of performing well, and winning his first match, but was a bit underdone in terms of fitness and match practise. Just a question about how his serve would go, about how his shoulder would hold up.

Greg in practise

His first round opponent was the No.22 seed, 33 year-old German Michael Berrer. Currently ranked 132, Berrer is a former top 100 player with a high rank of 33 in April 2014. Greg was keen to compete, despite his serving limitations.
Serving first Greg was quick out of the blocks, serving four out of five 1st serves, and winning the game to lead 1-0. Berrer held for 1-1 then broke Greg, whose second serves we're coming through at between 106 to 125 km/hr. Greg hit back immediately, returning well to break Berrer and level the score at 2-2. In a long deuce game Greg again dropped his serve but then again broke Berrer to level the score at 4-4. Both players held to get to 5-5, then Greg was unable to serve enough first serves to prevent Berrer getting a decisive break, to lead 6-5. Greg forced Berrer to deuce but was unable to stop Berrer serving out the set 7-5.

Greg serving in the match

Greg did not start the second set well, dropping serve and trailing 0-2 early in the set. But he improved his first serve percentage and returning extremely well, breaking back and holding serve on the back of a few aces. Greg forced Berrer to save a break point in getting to 5-4 up. He then had Berrer facing three set points at 0-40 but the 6'4" Berrer responded with some good serves,  to get to 5-5. Greg held to lead 6-5 and put the pressure on Berrer to hold again. In a marathon 15 minute game Berrer saved 6 break points and Greg saved 6 game points in a 12 deuce game before Greg converted his 10th set point to win the game and the second set 7-5. One set all.

A hard fought match ends

Serving first again in the 3rd set, Greg held serve and then broke Berrer to lead 2-0. A real chance for the win now, but the effort and length of the first two sets was showing on an underprepared Greg. Berrer was able to keep the pressure on Greg and broke back, and then held serve to level the score at 2-2. Greg's lack of a second serve was seriously affecting his game and Berrer broke Greg again, going on to lead 4-2. Greg tried to fight back but Berrer held firm, breaking Greg again to serve for the match at 5-2. Greg saved match point to get to deuce but was unable to save the next match point, Berrer winning the set 6-2, and a lengthy match 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.
Greg was bitterly disappointed but buoyed by his performance given that he could not serve at his best, especially his second serve. He had performed better than Berrer off the baseline and around the court but was not able to hold his serve consistently. He also lacked the fitness required to compete a long hard match due to his limited ability to train due to his injuries.
Greg will now seek more medical advice and treatment for the troublesome shoulder.

Australasia Spring - End of Season

It was not the end of the season that Greg had planned nor wished for. Having won the Futures tournament in Sydney, the final five Challenger tournaments of 2013 beckoned with much promise. With the points gained from that win Greg had improved his ranking to a point where he was certain of main draw entry into all of the tournaments, with the possibility of being seeded for both the Traralgon and Yeongwol events. But fate was to determine otherwise.
Having complained of back stiffness and soreness during the Sydney Futures tournament, getting treatment from the ATP physiotherapist everyday, Greg was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his spine. All the more amazing that he was able to win that tournament and a testament to his fighting spirit and will to win. And no wonder he lost his first round match in Melbourne. Rest was the only solution and his first round loss in Melbourne provided the time for rest, before Greg began his preparation for the next tournament in Traralgon.
Then, in what can only be described as an unfortunate freak occurrence, Greg, whilst stepping up and around to get into a bench seat at dinner, twisted his knee with his full weight bearing down on the joint and causing a sublagation of the knee joint, resulting in a small tear in the tendons around the knee.
The pain was immediate and Greg was in no doubt that he could not compete in the tournament the following week.
He was out of the Traralgon tournament and after more treatment  and further assessment by the Tennis Australia doctor Greg was forced to withdraw from the Yeongwol tournament and subsequently out of the final two tournaments of the year.  The progosis was that it would take between four to six weeks for the knee to heal. Each week Greg has tried to play but has been unable to put his full weight and pressure on the knee, and thus has just continued with rest and therapy.
A pity, as the end of the season had promised much with Greg in good form. He would have been the 6th seed in Traralgon and seeded 8 in Yeongwol, and with favourable draws in both tournaments (which Matt Reid gratefully capitalised on in Greg's absence), he could have taken his ranking below 200 again.

But such is life in the world of tennis. It was not to be and Greg will now concentrate on getting his knee better and his body in top shape for next year and the Australian Summer of Tennis.

Australasian Spring - Melbourne #1

After a week's break in Melbourne, trying to recover from back stiffness, shake off a cold and train in winterish Melbourne weather, it was back into the fray for Greg in the ATP $50k Challenger tournament at Melbourne Park. With his doubles match scheduled for Monday postponed due to rain, his singles match took precedence, with the double match to follow later, weather permitting. The miserable Melbourne weather continued and it was a low 18 degrees, with drizzly rain and gusty winds that greeted Greg and his opponent for the match, drizzle delaying the start of the match from 10am to 12:45pm.

Melbourne Park Tennis Precinct By a quirk of the draw god's Greg was drawn against his doubles partner for the tournament, 26 year-old Englishman and good friend James Ward, currently ranked 180, with a high rank of137. Greg and Wardy have played each other a few times, with Greg slightly ahead in the head-to-head. It was an inauspicious start for both players, Greg saving three break points in the opening service game before holding, whilst Ward emulated Greg, saving two break points, in getting to 1-1. Ward then forced Greg to 0-40 and converted the first break opportunity to go a break up. He consolidated the break to lead 3-1. Greg fought back, holding serve and then bringing up break- back points on Ward's serve. Ward saved to get to deuce but Greg managed to break him, levelling the score at 3-3. Then in the next game Greg failed to close out the game at 40-30 and Ward broke Greg again to lead 4-3, then 5-3. This time Greg could not get the break back and Ward served out the set to win it 6-4.

 Brit James Ward Greg was quickly into trouble in the cold, breazy weather in the second set, saving from 0-40 down to get to deuce but he could not hold and Ward went a break up at 1-0, then held for a 2-0 lead. Greg said his back was really sore and stiff and so he had an injury time-out to have the physiotherapist work on his lower back. At the resumption of play, with Greg serving, the third game proved to be decisive as Greg again failed to close out the game at 40-30 and Ward broke Greg again to lead with a double break 3-0, then holding for a 4-0 lead. Ward was in the groove now and won the remaining games against a frustrated Greg, struggling with his serve and movement,  to deliver a 'bagel' 6-0 set win and win the match 6-4, 6-0.

Not the kindest draw for Greg given the relative weakness of the entrants. Greg said he was not moving well due to his sore back and he got frustrated in the end.

The doubles matches were postponed again as the weather closed in and play was cancelled for the day.

Australasian Spring - Sydney #5

It was perfect tennis weather for the final of the Sydney Futures tournament at the Olympic tennis venue at Homebush, which, to the delight of the sponsors, featured local flavour in the form of two Sydney born players, who both trained at the centre as juniors. Greg's opponent was young 19 year-old Jordan Thompson, who from having no ranking at the start of the year has had an outstanding year and progressed his ATP singles ranking to 361, with two Futures titles in the last two months, including the Futures title in Alice Springs a fortnight ago. Having now won nine matches in a row he was on a hot streak.

Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon

With Greg serving first both players showed few nerves in getting to 2-2. Then with Greg struggling to adjust to the slower pace of the younger Thompson's game and making a myriad of unforced errors, Thompson broke Greg to lead 3-2, then 4-2. Greg rallied to hold for 4-3 but could not break Thompson who held serve to lead 5-3. Then with four first serves Greg raced to 40-15 but an errant drop-shot from Greg and a net cord from Thompson got the score to deuce. Thompson then brought up set point. Greg saved that point to get back to deuce but a double fault gave Thompson a second set point which he converted to pocket the first set 6-3.

Jordan and Greg on court

 Jordan held serve to start the second set as did Greg, games going with serve to 3-2, Jordan leading. The two errors and a double fault saw Greg staring at 15-40 and he was unable to stop Jordan converting the opportunity to get a critical break of serve and lead 4-2. Things were looking grim for Greg but he regained his composure, cut down the unforced errors and put the pressure back on young Thompson to serve out the set to get the win. He hit back immediately breaking Jordan and then holding serve to level the score at 4-4. Both players held to get to 5-5, then Greg brought up another break point on Thompson's serve, converting to lead 6-5. Thompson tried to fight back but despite getting Greg to 30-30 he was unable to stop Greg winning the game and the 2nd set 7-5, to level the match at one set all.

Greg had the momentum and seized the opportunity to put even more pressure on Thompson, breaking him again to lead 1-0. Young Thompson fought back and got Greg to 15-40 and had two break-back opportunities. Two good serves from Greg saw the score back to deuce, with Greg only managing to win the point after another three deuces. With Thompson still a bit groggy from not winning the last set, being broken and then being able to break, Greg struck again to break Thompson again, and lead 3-0. Two double faults in a row gifted Thompson an opening and a drop shot winner from him saw Greg facing three break points at 0-40. Greg was determined though and to Thompson's chagrin, some solid play from Greg saw him save those points and hold serve for a 4-0 lead. Thompson then held serve for 4-1, and another long deuce game on Greg's serve got the score to 5-1. Greg upped the tempo, and forced Thompson to 0-40. He duly converted the break bringing up his first hard court title, winning the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

A hard fought win for Greg in a match in which he did not play at his best, struggling at first to adjust to Thompson's game, but his greater experience, coupled with his superior serve, enabled him to fight back and win the match.

Australasian Spring - Sydney #4

The temperature had dropped to a much friendlier 23 degrees for the semi final of the Sydney Futures tournament. A blessing for Greg after his gruelling match in soaring temperatures the previous day. Awaiting him was the No. 3 seed, fellow Aussie from the Central Coast, just north of Sydney, 28 year-old Adam Feeney. A well experienced pro-tour player Greg had watched Feeney train at Homebush when Greg was still in the junior squads, but had also built up a friendship with Feeney when they where both touring and training with the AIS. Currently ranked 324, with a high rank of 248 in the singles, Adam is a solid player who combines both base line accuracy with a good volley repertoire, but can run hot or cold in matches. 

Good friends Adam & Greg

Sydney Tennis Centre at Homebush

Adam had the honours and Greg was quick to get him on the back foot. In a long first service game Greg eventually converted a break point opportunity to seize the initiative. Feeney hit straight back, aided by a couple of errors by Greg, to have three break-back opportunities at 0-40 on Greg's serve. Greg was not about to give back the advantage and five big serves saw him save those points and go to a 2-0 lead. Adam tried desperately to get the break back but Greg was solid, saving another break point chance in getting the score to 5-4. He then proceeded to serve out the first set 6-4.

Adam Feeney at Cairns Futures

Greg repeated the break of Adam's first serve in the second set, again consolidating the break to lead 2-0. He then wrested the match from Adam, forcing another break of serve to go 3-0, then 4-0 up. Adam got himself on the scoreboard in the second set and Greg held serve for a 5-1 lead. Greg then again brought up break-point on Feeney's serve, this time match point, winning the point and the set and match 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the final.

A competent display by Greg in a match in which the tennis never reached any great heights. Greg served the better, saving four break points, and converted his opportunities, which was the difference in the match.
Wish him luck for the final.