Tallon Griekspoor has qualified for the third round of Roland Garros for the second time in his career on Thursday. The 28-year-old from North Holland was too strong for Canadian Gabriel Diallo in four sets: 5-7, 6-7 (3), 6-1 and 3-6.
Griekspoor (ATP-35) was on paper the favorite against Diallo, number 54 in the world. After more than three hours, Griekspoor crowned that status with a place in the third round.
For Griekspoor, the place in the third round is a tie of his best performance in Paris. Last year, the best tennis player in the Netherlands also reached the third round of Roland Garros. Then he had to acknowledge his superior in Alexander Zverev, who eliminated Jesper de Jong on Thursday.
In the next round, Griekspoor will face the winner of the match between Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (ATP-103) or Ethan Quinn (ATP-106) from the United States. Griekspoor won in the first round against American Marcos Giron (ATP-43).
Griekspoor is the only Dutchman left in the Parisian gravel tournament after De Jong’s elimination. Earlier, Botic van de Zandschulp, Suzan Lamens and Arantxa Rus were eliminated. Kiki Bertens was the last Dutch player to reach the fourth round in Paris in 2020.
Griekspoor destroys racket after setback
The Dutchman took a 1-4 lead in the first set but gave up that margin. Griekspoor recovered and took the first set 7-5.
Griekspoor also wasted a 1-4 lead in the second act, after which he did not have his emotions under control. The Dutchman broke his racket with his foot after a failed service volley. Earlier this month, he destroyed no fewer than two rackets during a match in Rome.
In the tiebreak that followed, Griekspoor served much better than Diallo. The second set was thus a prey for the tennis player from Nieuw-Vennep.
Griekspoor could then have finished the job in three sets, but failed to do so. Diallo served better in the third set and Griekspoor recorded too many unnecessary mistakes.
The Dutchman recovered in the fourth set. Griekspoor broke Diallo immediately and did not relinquish that lead. Then he used his first match point with a rake forehand. This allows Griekspoor to show himself again in the third round of Roland Garros.