Giant slayer Griekspoor edges past Zverev in a three set thriller

He fought hard, electrified the crowd and came out victorious. Home favourite Tallon Griekspoor (26) made the home crowd exhilarate at the ABN AMRO Open by beating the powerful German Alexander Zverev in three sets : 4-6 6-3 6-4.

'I have often won great matches here in Ahoy, but this is perhaps the most beautiful,’ said Griekspoor after sending home Alexander Zverev, world number 17. 'I feel good, both physically and mentally. This gives me some new horizons for the rest of the tournament.’

Griekspoor (ATP-61) made a terrific start this year by capturing his first ATP title in Pune, India during the first tournament week of 2023. It's the same top form he seems to have brought with him to Rotterdam Ahoy, where he defeated the Swede Mikael Ymer in the first round. However once again his ankle suffered a lot. The same body part gave Alexander Zverev some traumatic memories. Back in June, the German was world number 2, but was taken down by a serious ankle injury after a nasty slide at Roland Garros. And although Zverev is on his way back to where he left off, he has not yet reached his top level. Griekspoor spotted this and used these opportunities against the German.

Griekspoor declared : 'Alexander will definitely return to the top 10, but I was especially happy with how I played myself. I was treated all day on my ankle and it felt better. In addition, my serve felt good and I was able to keep playing aggressively.' Griekspoor pointed out that the support of the home crowd helped a lot. 'It should be a late-night party, and when you see how many spectators stay seated, you try to get the audience involved a bit. When that works, it feels great. That's what you play tennis for.’

Griekspoor’s victory was not the only surprise of the day. Second-seed Andrey Rublev was also eliminated. Australian Alex de Minaur turned out to be too strong for Rublev, and slayed the 2021 ABN AMRO champion in two straight sets : 6-4 6-4.

Danish wonderboy Holger Rune aged only 19, lived up to expectations by beating the French qualifier Constant Lestienne in straight sets: 6-4 6-4. Grigor Dimitrov will also be one of the last eight. The Bulgarian won against fifth-seed Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz: 7-6, 7-6. To the satisfaction of the crowd, old warrior Stan Wawrinka (37) also reached the quarter-finals. In the duel of the backhanders, the 2015 Rotterdam Ahoy champion 'Stan the Man' beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet : 6-3 6-3.