Griekspoor Stuns Top Seed Zverev in Indian Wells Marathon

TDT | Manama
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Dutchman Edges Out World Number Two

Tallon Griekspoor pulled off a seismic upset at Indian Wells on March 7, toppling top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in a second-round epic that stretched over three hours and seven minutes. The Dutchman dropped to the Stadium One court in disbelief after clinching his sixth match point under the California sun, ending a run of six straight losses to Zverev. “It was a mental grind to get past him,” Griekspoor said, his exhaustion mingling with pride. This marked his first win over a top-five player in 19 attempts—a breakthrough he celebrated by scrawling “Finally” on the TV lens with a grin.

Match Turns on Tiebreak Tension

Zverev had the match in his grip, serving for it in the second set, but faltered as Griekspoor clawed back to take the tiebreak and level the score. The third set was a rollercoaster—Griekspoor squandered five match points at 6-5 but held his nerve in the decider, sealing it in another tiebreak. The 28-year-old now faces Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s booming serve in round three. For Zverev, it’s a bitter pill. “I’m not playing good tennis—simple as that,” he admitted, his 4-4 record since the Australian Open final loss to Jannik Sinner exposing a dip in form. “It’s nowhere near what I need it to be.”

Ruud Falls as Upsets Pile Up

The day wasn’t kind to seeds. Fourth-ranked Casper Ruud crashed out to American Marcos Giron 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-2, sparking wild scenes as Giron leapt in triumph before a roaring crowd. “This one’s special—Indian Wells is my favorite event,” said Giron, who’d watched from the stands as a kid. Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev, a finalist here the past two years, breezed past Yunchaokete Bu 6-2, 6-2 in under 97 minutes, though he cheekily jabbed at the “fast” courts on the camera lens. Tenth seed Tommy Paul dispatched Tristan Boyer 6-3, 6-1, setting up a clash with Cameron Norrie, while Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a late stumble to beat Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-2, 6-4.

Women’s Draw Sees Swiatek Surge

On the women’s side, defending champion Iga Swiatek kicked off with a 6-2, 6-0 demolition of Caroline Garcia, her focus unshaken in the desert heat. She’ll meet Dayana Yastremska next after the Ukrainian ousted Ons Jabeur. Elena Rybakina, the 2023 winner back after a year sidelined by illness, looked sharp in a 6-3, 6-3 win over Suzan Lamens, lining up Katie Boulter in round three. Jessica Pegula and teen sensation Mirra Andreeva advanced under the lights, while Marta Kostyuk, Karolina Muchova, and Katerina Siniakova kept the WTA 1000 field fiercely competitive. For Griekspoor, though, this day was his—a career-defining moment etched in the Indian Wells sand.