Alexander Zverev’s march at Roland Garros continued in dramatic fashion as his highly anticipated clash with Tallon Griekspoor ended unexpectedly after just 54 minutes, leaving fans and analysts with more questions than answers.
The Dutchman, ranked 35th in the world, was forced to retire early in the second set due to an abdominal injury sustained during his final pre-match practice. Despite making a fast start and racing to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, Griekspoor quickly found himself unable to serve at full strength, struggling to reach even 180 km/h on his deliveries. Zverev, the world No. and last year’s finalist, capitalized on the situation, turning the match around to claim the first set 6-4 before Griekspoor called it quits down 3-0 in the second.
Griekspoor expressed his disappointment after the match, admitting he had tried everything but realized early on that he couldn’t compete at the required level. “It was one of the most important matches of my career, but I just couldn’t serve or accelerate,” he said, visibly frustrated by the timing of the injury.
This abrupt ending was especially surprising given the recent history between the two players. While Zverev holds a commanding 7-2 head-to-head record, their last several encounters have been fiercely contested, with Griekspoor even notching his first-ever win over a top-five opponent by defeating Zverev in a marathon match at Indian Wells earlier this year Their rivalry has become one of the most intriguing subplots on the ATP Tour, with matches often featuring multiple tiebreaks and high drama.
With this win, Zverev advances to his fifth consecutive quarterfinal at Roland Garros, where he awaits the winner of the Djokovic-Norrie match. For Griekspoor, attention now shifts to recovery and the upcoming grass court season, his preferred surface.
