Interview Griekspoor: ‘I walk around here with a nice feeling’

Tallon Griekspoor exceeded the expectations of everything and everyone last year by winning the title. He swapped his grass shoes for grass studs after a memorable battle against Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros.

How did your first steps on grass feel after your performance last year?
‘For me, they are always nice steps anyway. I like playing on grass and when I returned last Thursday for the first time since the final, it was a nice moment. I walk around here with a nice feeling.’

Was it different walking in as title holder?
‘Not so much, although it is true that people look at you a bit differently. But that won’t just have to do with last year’s tournament week, but with my whole past season. Those are positive changes and I receive nice compliments.’

You said of your final victory here that it was the best week of your life. Is that still the case?
‘Definitely. The final day was especially incredibly beautiful. Winning a title is special and to do it in your own country is totally awesome.’

Given the difficulty of winning an ATP tournament, it was actually a bizarre coincidence that you won here of all places, wasn’t it?
‘It has to be a bit of a fluke. I played the quarterfinals against Alex de Minaur, in which I was hopeless for a set and a half. Then, out of nowhere, I played four incredible points in a row and the match suddenly turned around. That’s grass tennis. If the lesser game had lasted ten minutes longer, I would have lost that match. When Jannik Sinner was eliminated in the quarterfinals, the schedule broke open. You have to be very good yourself and have some luck in the process. That coincided last year.’

What grade do you give your season so far?
‘Then I might be a bit too critical, but I come out at a 6.5 or 7. I played a third round at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and a semi-final in Rotterdam. I won almost all the matches I needed to win and staggered some world champions (Sinner, Djokovic, Zverev, ed.). I have not played my best tennis yet, but I am doing the right things and expect the best is yet to come. When you are number 23 in the world, you can’t complain.’

What should you pay particular attention to with Miomir Kecmanovic as an opponent?
‘He secretly retrieves more balls than you think and on other surfaces is a big fan of long rallies. I can’t imagine he will suddenly play very differently on grass, so it’s up to me to play attacking tennis. I should get the chances to do that. He is a tough customer.’

If you were to organise a cosy barbecue here, which three people from the past or present would you invite?
‘I immediately think of Johan Cruijff, although I didn’t really experience him consciously. But I know the old videos and sayings. Tiger Woods has also been invited, because I have always been a big fan of him and he is someone who has experienced the necessary things I can learn from. Roger Federer completes the company. In my opinion, he has had the biggest influence on our sport and is beautiful in life. I unfortunately didn’t manage to play against him, but he may still come to the barbecue, haha.’