Alexander Zverev and Tallon Griekspoor faced off in a highly anticipated fourth-round match at Roland Garros, but the contest ended with an unexpected twist that left fans wanting more.
The match began with Griekspoor, the Dutch world No. 35, coming out strong and taking a 3-0 lead against the world No. Zverev. Despite the early pressure, Zverev quickly found his rhythm, adjusting his game and winning six of the next seven games to claim the first set 6-4. Zverev’s powerful serve, including an ace at 212 km/h, and his composure under pressure proved decisive as he turned the momentum in his favor.
However, the real drama unfolded in the second set. Griekspoor, visibly struggling, was unable to serve at full strength—his speed dropping as low as 150 km/h due to an abdominal injury he sustained just before the match. After falling behind 3-0 in the second set, Griekspoor was forced to retire, handing Zverev a spot in the quarterfinals after just 54 minutes of play.
Griekspoor expressed his disappointment after the match, explaining, “On the last serves I did this morning, I injured my abdominals. I tried everything. This was one of the most important matches of my career, on a beautiful court. But I just couldn’t serve properly and realized quickly it wasn’t my day”.
Zverev, now a five-time Roland Garros quarterfinalist, awaits his next opponent, with either Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie on the horizon.
This rivalry has been closer than the rankings suggest. While Zverev holds a dominant head-to-head record, several of their recent matches have gone the distance, with Griekspoor even notching a hard-fought win against Zverev earlier this year at Indian Wells Despite the abrupt ending in Paris, their matchups remain some of the most competitive on the ATP Tour.
