Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #10

Greg took to the courts for his second round qualifying match in Busan a little apprehensively, not because his opponent was the No.5 seed Jimmy Wang from Taipei, ranked 330, but because he could still feel the strained abductor muscle in his groin, which was causing discomfort and could inhibit his movement. The last time Greg had played Wang, who has a high rank of 85, was two years ago in California in a miserable rainy and windy day, and Wang had delivered the one and only double bagel score-line Greg has had in his career. Things could only be better this time. 
Games went with serve until 2-2, then Greg was broken by Wang. Greg was feeling the strained abductor, and so had an injury time-out to get some treatment, and was seriously considering not continuing. But he was hitting the ball well and was pretty competitive, even on one leg, so decided to keep playing. He managed to stay close to Wang, and then broke him, to take the set to the tie-break. 
In the tie-break it was Wang who got the decisive break, and maintained the gap to win it 7-3 and go a set up. 
In the second set, games went with serve until 2-3. Greg was then forced to save break point to win the game and level at 3-3. His movement was restricted, unable to get much leg action on serve and lacking explosive movement to the one side, and Wang capitalised, moving Greg around. He held serve for 4-3, then attacked and broke Greg's serve, to serve for the match at 5-3. There was nothing Greg could do to stop Wang, who wrapped up the match 76(3), 6-3.
It was along shot for Greg to beat Wang even if fully fit, but he said he had competed and played well, and had performed well even carrying a muscle strain. His upper leg/groin area was sore but he did not think there was anything that would not repair with rest, which he will now have, taking a couple of weeks off to recuperate and attend his friend's Guy and Adine's wedding in Los Angeles.
Upon reflection the Asian your had been only moderately successful, Greg playing well and qualifying for two tournaments, but with no main draw wins, although he had some very close matches. His fitness was the best it had been for over two years and he had got through a few of long three set matches well, but now had a niggling injury to deal with.  

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #9

Greg and Filip Peliwo were unable to play their second round doubles match in An-Ning as Greg had a bit of tenderness in his right shoulder,  so did not want to aggravate the shoulder in a doubles match when he had the singles to play in qualifying on the weekend, in the next tournament in Busan, Korea. A $100k + hospitality challenger, the opposition would be a lot tougher in this higher level event. And so it proved to be.  

They managed to get to Busan to get in a couple of practise sessions on the hard court surface, having been on clay for the past two week, so at least were adjusting to the different surface. Greg avoided a seeded player in the first round but was still up against a difficult opponent, 28 year old Australian riding star Oliver Anderson, who had created a stir in Australia in the beginning of the year, winning the Australian Open Junior singles title and showing a lot of promised the Men's tour, getting his ranking down to 670. Unfortunately he tore a muscle in his hip in the final and has been out of tennis since mid February recuperating. This would be his first match back and would be a quite unknown quantity for Greg to play. 

Australian Open Junior Champion

With Anderson serving first Greg was quickly on the front foot, breaking Anderson, then consolidating the break with a quick hold of serve to lead 2-0. Greg then capitalised further on a nervous start by Anderson, and serving well himself broke Anderson twice more. Greg shut Anderson out completely on his serve, denying him a single point, to win the set 6-0. 

He again broke Anderson in the first game of the second set but the served a shocker with the new balls and allowed Anderson to break back to level at 1-1, giving Anderson a sniff at getting back into the match. Greg righted the situation be breaking Anderson a fifth time to again have he break advantage in the set. But in what he described as the worst set he has played Greg served poorly, play badly and was broken twice more to get to 3-5 down, giving the Aussie junior a chance to serve for the set. Greg fought back breaking Anderson again to get back to 4-5 but then again dropped his serve for the fourth time in the set, losing the set 4-6 and presenting  Anderson the chance of winning the match.

Oliver Anderson at the Open

After a comfort break, Greg was determined to start the set well and knuckle down to play some decent tennis again.  He broke Anderson early to lead 1-2, then saved a break-point in consolidating the break. He was back in the zone and broke Anderson once more before serving out the set 6-2, to win the match 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.

Greg said he should have won in straight sets but was troubled by a slight groin strain he had picked up in training the previous day and it had distracted him in the second set. He was worried about it after the match, as it had progressively hampered his movement, but he was able to turn into around and get the win. Now to see the physio to get some treatment on that groin strain.

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #8

The first round of the Main Draw of the singles in An-ning had Greg avoiding a seed, up against 25 year-old Austrian Bastian Trinker, currently ranked 266, with a high rank of 241. A winnable match, however Trinker, being from Austria, would be used to playing at altitude and also the clay court surface, so will be a stern test.
Greg did not start serving well but was still able to hold serve, whereas Trinker was serving well and games went with serve to 4-4, Greg's first serve percentage slowly improving. He could not get into Brinker serve games though, as Trinker was serving at over 80%. At 5-5, Greg then forced to break point at 15-40. He rose to the challenge, saving both points and getting to deuce, only for Trinker  to get the advantage and break Greg, to take a decisive 6-5 lead in the first set. He confidently stepped up and served out the set, with two aces, winning the set 7-5.
The second set started well for Greg and games went with serve to 1-1. Greg then faced break points at 15-40 but dug deep, served and played well and won the game to get to 2-1. Trinker was not going to give Greg a sniff and sent down three aces, holding to love to level at 2-2, sending Greg a message.

Austrian Bastian Trinker

Again Greg faced double break point and again he fought back to lead 3-2. Greg was getting into a rhythm now and started the games better, but he could make no in-roads into Trinker's serve, games going with serve to the tie-break at 6-6. Both players were serving well, Greg at 65% and Trinker even better at 75%.
In the tie-break it was Trinker you got the first break, to go 2-1 them 3-1 up, changing ends at 4-2. Greg then broke back to get to 4-3, then level at 4-4, then 5-5. It was Trinker who had the first set point (and match point) at 6-5, but on Greg's serve. Greg held both his serves to bring up set point on his serve at 7-6, breaking the Trinker serve to pouch the tie-break 7-8, and win the set 7-6, taking the match to a third set.
After the tie-break it was Trinker who had the advantage of serving first in the third set, but his serve was not as solid as in the previous two sets. He held and then forced Greg to a long deuce game, Greg saving another break point to get to 1-1. In contrast Trinker was serving at below 50% and Greg at over 75%, and at 1-1 Greg was able to bring up his first break-point opportunity on the Trinker serve,

Trinker. at home on the clay

But in another long deuce game Trinker was able to hold. He steadily improved his serve percentage, and Greg held firm, playing catch-up on the score each serve, games eventually going to 6-5, Trinker ahead, with Greg serving to stay in the match. Trinker pegged him back to 30-30, then brought up his second match point, but again Greg saved, winning the game to take the third set to the tie-break at 6-6.
This time it was Trinker who served first, and he immediately applied the pressure to break Greg to lead 2-1, then holding serve to go 4-1 up, then getting a second break to lead 5-1. Greg held for 5-2 but could not deny Trinker from serving out the tie-break 7-2, to win the third set and a closely contested match 7-5, 6-7(6), 7-6.
Greg was gutted, after fighting so hard, against a player who lives and plays at altitude, to lose the match. He was happy with his game but could not get a read on Trinker's serve on the slick clay courts. Trinker closed Greg out in the first two sets by serving at a high percentage. Greg had played the better tennis, on his serve and most of Trinker's second serve but fell just short on the day.

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #7

Greg and partner Canadian Filip Peliwo had managed to get into the doubles Main Draw and got a favourable draw too, up against a wild card pairing of Zhouzang Qiu and Rikele Te, currently unranked in the ATP doubles as a pair.
Serving first Greg started confidently holding to love. The Chinese pair had the advantage of local condition knowledge, especially playing on altitude in the clay court surface, and held serve as well, getting to 3-3 before getting Peliwo to 0-40 and breaking Greg and Filip, to go a break up at 3-4. Greg and Filip responded and broke back immediately to level at 4-4. They then held and put the pressure on the Chinese to hold serve to stay in the set. The broke the Chinese pair for the second tie in succession to win the first set 6-4.
Serving first Filip was forced to 0-40 by managed to save three break points to get back to deuce, then win the deciding point to avoid being behind, Games went with serve to 3-2, Greg and Filip leading before they managed to break the Chinese pair, to lead 4-2, then serve for the match at 5-3. It was not routing though as the Chinese pair forced them to 30-40. They saved the break opportunity and then had both breakpoint and match point on the deciding point, fortunately winning the point o wrap-up the set 6-3 and the match 6-4, 6-3.
It was the first time that Greg and Filip had played together, so it was a good match for them to get used to each others game.
 

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #6

The second round of qualifying in An-ning was also the final round of qualifying, due to the small entry list. Greg's opponent was the No. 3 seed, 22 year-old Canadian Filip Peliwo, who had helped Greg with some medicine in Nanjing when Greg took ill last week. Currently ranked 433, with a high ranking of 223, Peliwo will be a much sterner test for Greg than the first round of qualifying.

The clay courts at An-ning

Serving first Greg started well, holding to love, but struggled in his second service game, going to deuce twice before holding serve to get to 2-1. He then broke Peliwo to get to 3-1, then 4-1 up. Games then went with serve, with Greg serving well to serve out the first set 6-3.
Peliwo was not done and came straight back, playing at a higher intensity. He held serve then forced Greg to face two break points at 15-40. Greg managed to get to deuce, then won the game to level at 1-1. Peliwo held to love, then again had Greg facing two break points. Greg again saved to get to 2-2. He then took Peliwo to 15-40 and broke his serve on the first opportunity to lead 3-2. Peliwo was not deterred and in the third service game in a row had Greg facing break points, this time at 0-40. He had not served well in this game, only landing one first serve to get to 15-40, but a double fault saw him give up his break advantage, for Peliwo to level at 3-3, then get to 4-3. It was then Peliwos turn to face two break point opportunites on his serve at 4-4. A break would have seen Greg serving for the match, but it was not to be. Peliwo saved to get to 5-4. Greg held to love for 5-5, then both held to go to the tie-break at 6-6.

Canadian Filip Peliwo

In the tiebreak it was Peliwo who got the decisive break to change ends at 4-2 up. Greg held for 3-4 but Peliwo was not to be denied from tying up the match at a set all, winning both his serves to have three set points at 6-3, then breaking Greg again to win the tie-break 7-3, and the set 7-6. One set all.
After a short comfort break, Greg was back into the fray, serving first, and serving well, saving a break point against him to get to 2-1 up. He then broke Peliwo to take the advantage at 3-1, holding off a desperate Peliwo to go to 4-1 up. Peliwo held for 4-2, then had Greg at deuce but could not bring up any break point opportunities, Greg holding on to lead 5-2. He would have loved a break, to avoid having to serve for the match, the hardest game in any match, but Peliwo held for 5-3. Greg stepped up and brought up match point at 40-15, Peliwo saved one point but a relieved Greg served out the game, to win the set 6-3, and a hard fought match 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3.
It was a bittersweet win for Greg, as Peliwo had helped him when he was ill in Nanjing, they were sharing a room in the resort, and they had also just gained entry into the doubles playing together for the first time. Ce le vie.
Greg was pleased with the fighting win, saying it was his best close fought result in two years and attributed the win to the hard work he had put into his fitness and hitting in the weeks that he had been in Asia. He said that physically he had come through the match well, even though playing at altitude and on clay was tough on both the lungs and the legs.
So into the singles and the doubles main draw for Greg.

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #5

An-ning skyline

After a horrid few days in Nanjing, China, struggling with nausea and worse, Greg slowly returned to eating solid foods, recovered his strength and returned to training and hitting. He had luckily been able to obtain some medicine, initially from Canadian player Filip Peliwo, then from a Chinese medical centre through the help of the tournament director and a Chinese interpreter, which had helped him recover quicker. Then it was off to An-ning for the next Challenger tournament. Here the accommodation was much improved on that of Nanjing. Greg had likened the accommodation and condition as dormitory like in Nanjing but in An-ning the tennis was played a hotel resort complex and the players were in staying in the Gloria Hot Springs Resort with hotel accommodation, swimming pools, hot spas and much improved food on offer.

The Gloria Hot Springs Resort

As in the previous two tournaments the entry list dropped dramatically and Greg was able to make the cut for the qualifying, to even be seeded No. 5. Just out of the top four seeding, so he will have to beat a higher seed to qualify.

His opponent for the first round of qualifying was young local player, 18 year-old Hantao Liu, not yet ranked in the ATP.

In the opening game Greg forced Liu to deuce, then break-point and converted to take an early advantage. He then held serve to deuce, then repeated the dose, breaking Liu and holding, to race to a 4-0 lead. Liu held serve but was not able to win much on Greg's serve, and Greg served out the first set 6-2.

Confident and in the zone, Greg was in no mood to give Liu a sniff at fighting back. Greg broke Liu in the first game again, then dominated the set, allowing Liu to win only five points in the set, holding serve easily and breaking Liu twice more to run away with the set 6-0, and win the match 6-2, 6-0.

Greg, said that although Liu had not provided much opposition, he had played well, getting some valuable match time, getting more used to the conditions and building some confidence. He quickly returned to the courts for another 40 minutes practise session, working on his ground strokes and preparing for the next match, to be played the next day.

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #4

From Gwanju, Korea it was off to Nanjing in China for the next Challenger tournament. This time the court surface was to be clay, not Greg's favourite surface but he made sure that he would get some decent time on the courts in Nanjing by travelling there early. After a couple of days hard training Greg was eager to go, but all the first round matches was delayed by persistent rain on Saturday, so were to be played earlier on Sunday, followed by the second round match later the same day. Not an ideal situation but it would hopefully be the same for all the players.

Italian Riccardo Ghedin

He did not have the best of draws, having drawn the number 5 seed when the draw was littered with unranked Chinese players, as not many ranked foreign players travelled to China to contest the qualifying. The No. 5 seed was 30 year-old Italian Riccardo Ghedin, currently ranked 508, with a high rank of 222, who would be adept on the clay court surface. A tricky but winnable match for Greg if he plays well.
It was not to be, Greg reporting that this morning he had begun suffering dire signs of Asian belly and was feeling nauseous and not too well. He dosed up and took to court, but after winning just 3 points in his first two service games, Greg was forced to retire from the match at 0-3 down.
Not the best of luck for Greg. Hopefully he can recover soon. The only positive is that he is not injured.

Away in Asia - Autumn 2016 #3

Picturesque Gwanju

Greg has been hoping for a day off before playing his first round of the main draw after two long qualifying matches, but unfortunately for him the scheduling saw him straight back into the fray the next day. He also did not have the best of luck, the worst actually, in the draw for the qualifying spots. With four qualifying places available, Greg drew the No1. seed, 25 year old Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis, currently ranked 80 in the singles, with a high rank of 67. Berankis was no doubt "vulturing" points in this Asian Challenger tournament when he could have been playing in more lucrative and prestigious tournaments like Monte Carlo. Just Greg's luck. He will have to play his best tennis and serve at his best to match Berankis.
Greg started well, serving well but was quickly under pressure from Berankis, facing break points early in the set but saving those points to get the score to 2-2. However Berankis was starting to pick Greg's service and kept the pressure on, brining up break points again. Greg saved the first but Berankis converted the second break point opportunity to go ahead 3-2. Greg fought back but Berankis was hitting his spots on serve and held to lead 4-2. Greg served well to stay close, then Berankis again closed out the game to go 5-3 up, and put pressure on Greg to hold serve to stay in the game. Berankis was in the zone now though and broke Greg again to win the first set 6-3, and get the right to serve first in the second set.

Berankis at Wimbledon

Berankis continued his good form in the second set, returning extremely well, limiting Greg to winning just two points in his first two serve and breaking him twice in quick succession to sprint out to a 4-0 lead. Greg dug deep and attacked Berankis' serve, getting him to face two break points, converting the second point to break Berankis and get on the score-board in the second set. This just refocused Berankis who then broke Greg to love, even though three of those serves were first serves, to extend his lead to 5-1. With little ado he then served out the set to win the match 6-3, 6-1.
Greg said he had tried all he could but had not served as well as he had hoped to, making a good percentage of first serves but not hitting his spots, so that once Berankis had adjusted to Greg's style, he had been able to make a high percentage of quality returns and put Greg under pressure constantly. Greg said he had never had so many winners whizz past him, and on the day had been beaten by a superior player. On the positive side he had qualified for the tournament, earning 5 points and coming through three successive matches with a clean bill of health.
Out of the tournament, Greg will recover for a day then get back in to some training and prepare for next week's tournament in China.