The second-round match of the Canadian Open between Alexander Zverev and Tallon Griekspoor should have been so much easier for the German. He was the top seed, after all, and the difference between him, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic and the rest of the ATP Tour was vast.
Griekspoor, however, had a different idea. In the first set, both players held serve with confidence and ease until Griekspoor actually had a chance to break at 5-4. Zverev even faced break point, and therefore, Griekspoor had a set point, but the German found a way to push through.
Tennis fans might have logically assumed that the test was what Zverev needed to fully awaken in a match in which he wasn't performing at top form. This seemed to be cemented when the ATP No. 3 pushed past No. 69-ranked Griekspoor 7-3 in the eventual tie-break.
Tallon Griekspoor shocks Alexander Zverev at the Canadian Open
As it turns out, that narrative was false. Not only did the Dutch player not wilt after dropping the opening set, but he leveled up in form and dominated Zverev in the second set. The difference between the players was more astonishing because of who was taking advantage. One might have assumed Zverev, but they would have presumed incorrectly.
Griekspoor led 4-0 in only a matter of minutes. He was breaking the German easily, which is never an easy task. While Zverev somewhat corrected and held in his final two service games, the damage was done. He couldn't break the Dutchman, who took set two 6-2.
To be fair, Tallon Griekspoor has always been more capable of high-end success than he has accomplished. His highest ranking was No. 21 in 2023, and he's never made it past the fourth round at a Masters 1000 or major. With his easy power and ability to move, one would have expected more.
The Canadian Open might be his breakthrough. In the third set, he broke Alexander Zverev for a third time and jumped ahead to 3-2. Griekspoor was playing with the confidence of a top-5 player, while Zverev seemed lost and appeared, shockingly, to be wilting. He had no answer for what his opponent was doing, a rare sight for the brilliant German.
Even worse, and rare, Zverev suddenly didn't seem like he actively cared if he won or lost. He was lethargic. He wasn't alone, either.
Taylor Fritz also lost on Wednesday, stunningly in straight sets to Thiago Agustin Tirante. The German's path to a title in Montreal was clear with Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic not participating, and long-time nemesis Fritz out. Griekspoor was shutting the door, though.
Then, surprisingly, Zverev got a break, and the third set was back to 4-all. Might the Dutchman find a way to have a win stolen from him? But as with everything in the match, the unexpected happened. Griekspoor got yet another break of the German and led 5-4 and could serve out the match.
After getting to 30-all, Griekspoor won the final two points. The win was arguably the biggest of his career if it eventually leads to a title.
Tallen Griekspoor will next face the winner of the Canadian Open match between Matteo Arnaldi and Fabian Marozsan. As with all in Montreal, there is no way of knowing who will win the match or the tournament overall.
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