Griekspoor skims past abyss

It regularly looked bleak for defending champion Tallon Griekspoor in his opening match of Libéma Open 2024. But the crowd favourite fought back from a 3-0 deficit in the third set against Miomir Kecmanovic and won a nail-biter: 6-7(3) 7-6(7) 7-6(3).

When the match went into another tiebreak after two sets played without a service break, Griekspoor seemed to be heading sovereignly for a 1-1 tie in sets. The home player led 6-2, but saw his Serbian opponent come alongside, before it finished in 9-7.

In the third set, Griekspoor was the first to lose service in the match. After he quickly made up for this break, a third tiebreak had to decide the match. This time Griekspoor made the difference a little bigger: 7-3.

A Dutch clash in the second round would have been possible, had it not been for Botic van de Zandschulp who lost to Mackenzie McDonald in three sets.

Roberto Bautista Agut was another former winner to reach the second round. The Spanish veteran outsmarted left-handed Swiss qualifier Marc-Andrea Huesler 7-6(7) 6-2.

Two-time finalist Jordan Thompson is already stranded in the first round this year. The number eight seed is the first series leader to be eliminated this week, as the Australian could not parry Milos Raonic’s powertennis sufficiently: 6-3 6-4.