Tallon Griekspoor brings down Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev eliminated from the start by Alex De Minaur in Rotterdam

It is definitely a difficult start to 2023 for Alexander Zverev. Beaten in the second round of the Australian Open in mid-January, the German, who suffered a serious right ankle injury last June in the Roland-Garros semi-final against Rafael Nadal, was knocked down this Wednesday evening during the Rotterdam tournament by the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (4-6, 6-3, 6-4), who benefits from a wild-card. The 61st in the world, who won after 2:04 of play, will be opposed to Holger Rune or his compatriot Gijs Brouwer in the quarter-finals.

It all started well for Alexander Zverev, who beat Kwon Soon-Woo (6-4, 7-6) in the previous round. Winner of the first round, the current seventeenth player in the world was quickly surprised at the start of the second by conceding his serve. Tallon Griekspoor then regained hope and then equalized at one set everywhere.

The turning point of the match took place in the third set at 2-1 (for Alexander Zverev) on the service of the Dutchman. The German got three break points which the 26-year-old managed to save. Three games later, the latter did not hesitate on the service of Alexander Zverev to finally win a prestigious success.

Rublev seems surprised by Minaur

Another setback for Andrey Rublev. Three weeks after his heavy defeat in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open against Novak Djokovic (6-1, 6-2, 6-4), the Russian fell this Wednesday during the first round of the Rotterdam tournament against Alex de Minaur (6-4, 6-4), an opponent who had already beaten him twice in the past (Next Gen and Washington in 2018). The Australian, 25th player in the world, will meet the American Maxime Cressy in the second round on Thursday.

The Russian player is the second seed to leave the Dutch tournament on Wednesday. In the afternoon, the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, 10th player in the world and seeded N.5, had suffered the law of the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (7-6, 7-6) in a meeting counting for the second round.

(With AFP)