ATP Indian Wells: Tallon Griekspoor sends Alexander Zverev packing

The highest seed Alexander Zverev embraced a brief Indian Wells marketing campaign. World no. 2 confronted Tallon Griekspoor within the second spherical and skilled a tricky 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 defeat to Tallon Griekspoor in three hours and 7 minutes.

The Dutch participant ousted the German for the second time in eight encounters. He ended a five-match dropping streak to Zverev and notched his first top-5 victory in a profession. Along with his poor Latin America swing and this setback, Alexander missed an opportunity to battle Jannik Sinner for the ATP throne.

Alexander fought properly, taking the opening set and overcoming a 5-2 deficit within the second. World no. 2 served for the win at 6-5 earlier than experiencing a expensive break and falling within the tie break. The German denied 5 match factors on the return at 5-6 within the closing set earlier than dropping a tie break and hitting the exit door.

LE MOMENT où Tallon Griekspoor 🇳🇱 décroche la plus grande victoire de sa carrière face à Alexander Zverev 🇩🇪 après 3H07 de fight !!! 🔥🔥🔥

Le Néerlandais restait sur 18 défaites en 18 confrontations face au high 5 avant ce match. 😳pic.twitter.com/IN4V97lIG1

— Sport, Set & Discuss (@GameSetAndTalk) March 7, 2025

Zverev claimed one level greater than Griekspoor. He outplayed his rival behind the second serve however missed his alternatives. The Dutchman denied 9 of 14 break factors and supplied 4 return video games from 9 alternatives.

Tallon landed 39 winners and 53 unforced errors, whereas Alexander gathered 32 direct factors and 39 errors. Griekspoor carried out higher in service winners and on the internet, and Zverev decreased the hole after taking extra factors from the baseline.

Tallon Griekspoor, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot

The favourite saved two break factors within the fourth sport of the duel and welcomed the rival’s mistake within the subsequent one for a break and a 3-2 lead. Alexander served properly within the remaining three video games and fired a backhand down the road winner at 5-4 to wrap up the opener in 38 minutes.

Tallon saved two break factors initially of the second set and gained confidence. He drew Zverev’s mistake within the subsequent one and opened a 2-0 hole. The lower-ranked participant fired an ace within the seventh sport, forging a 5-2 benefit and serving for the set at 5-3.

Alexander Zverev, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot

Alexander pulled the break again and prolonged his probabilities to seal the deal in straight units. They grew to become even stronger when the German delivered his second straight break at 5-5. As a substitute of transferring excessive on his serve in sport 12, Zverev despatched a forehand lengthy to drop serve and hold his rival alive.

They traded 4 mini-breaks within the first 9 factors of the tie break and remained neck and neck. World no. 2 missed a routine backhand at 5-5 and misplaced the set after a compelled error within the twelfth level, permitting his opponent to pressure a decider.

We noticed back-to-back breaks in video games three and 4. Alexander saved a break level in sport 9 and held for 5-4. Nevertheless, he misplaced serve in sport 11 and fell 6-5 behind. Griekspoor served for the win in sport 12 and generated 5 match factors!

Zverev saved them and welcomed the rival’s volley error on the fifth break level to drag the break again and prolong the drama. World no. 2 missed a forehand at 4-4 within the tie break and confronted two match factors after Tallon’s service winner.

The Dutchman transformed the primary with a compelled error, falling to the bottom and celebrating his most interesting victory in a profession.