Griekspoor trumps Bonzi to clinch Tata Open

His father a former motocross driver, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor has a pure thrill for pace. At 26, his tennis profession might not have taken the quick lane—these years of slog on the Challenger degree extra a gradual drive—however his first ATP title has lastly arrived.

Griekspoor, the world No 95 who’d damaged into the highest 50 final 12 months after successful six Challenger titles in 2021, wrapped his fingers across the 2023 ATP Tata Open Maharashtra trophy beating Sixtieth-ranked Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 within the remaining on Saturday. The ATP 250 triumph makes him the primary Dutchman since former world No 11 Sjeng Schalken in 2001 to win an ATP hard-court title, and comes after three halts on the quarter-final stage final 12 months.

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“First week of the season, first title, no person anticipated that most likely,” Griekspoor, given a walkover by prime seed Marin Cilic within the quarter-final earlier than operating over eighth seed Aslan Karatsev within the semis, stated. “I imply, the primary title means lots. There are such a lot of individuals again dwelling concerned on this—my dad and mom, my two (twin) brothers who performed tennis as effectively. To make all these individuals proud and provides them pleasure means much more to me.”

The 6’2’’ big-serving Dutch had not misplaced a set this week coming into the ultimate, successful 30 of the 31 service video games. He discovered essentially the most inopportune time to drop his second service recreation and the primary set. At 4-5 after a backhand winner from Bonzi arrange three set factors for the Frenchman, Griekspoor double faulted.

The Dutchman continued to face tall on the baseline whereas Bonzi was extra enterprising together with his courtroom motion. That, nevertheless, would go on to price him. His serve now underneath strain, a finely-executed lob that the backpedaling Bonzi couldn’t attain handed Griekspoor a break within the eleventh recreation of the second set, which he sealed with a forehand down-the-line winner on the rise.

The looping ball above and past him on the internet deflated Bonzi once more within the third recreation of the deciding set, earlier than a double fault on break level. As soon as Griekspoor obtained out of a tough recreation with two huge serves—he struck 17 aces—the lane to the title had been cleared for the Max Verstappen fan.

Jeevan-Balaji set French Open purpose after loss

Within the doubles remaining earlier in entrance of a near-capacity crowd rooting for Indian faces on centre courtroom, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and N Sriram Balaji could not apply the crowning glory to their credible cost as an alternate pair, happening to Belgian fourth seeds Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-4, 6-4.

Getting a spot in Pune solely after a late withdrawal, the 150 factors from the primary week will give a fillip to the Indian pair’s purpose of entering into the top-100 and the Grand Slams this season after the 2 Challenger titles in 2022.

“Our short-term purpose is to play the French Open,” Balaji stated. “We had a goal of sure factors in sure variety of weeks, so this provides us an incredible begin in that. The purpose is to now preserve climbing the ladder and make the lower for the French Open.”