Will the title stay at home? Tallon Griekspoor will do his best

The tennis event in Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, has a tradition of more than thirty years. It belongs to the ATP 250 category, and last year the triumph was won by the local player Tim van Rijthoven. In the entire history of the tournament, a local tennis player has become the champion five times. This year, the trophy can also stay in the Netherlands, thanks to a player who only won his first ATP title this year.

Home players are a welcome bonus at any tennis tournament. But in Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, it’s not easy for the home fans of the white sport. Last year’s defending champion Tim van Rijthoven is out due to health reasons, Botic Van de Zandschulp has lost form and wildcard player Gijs Brouwer dropped out in the first round.

However, the Netherlands also has a representative among the seeded players. And after the exodus of the favourites, the home player Tallon Griekspoor is the only one of the seeded players left in the game. The results so far have catapulted him into the favourite position. Will he win the title again for the home colours?

When he won a tournament in India earlier this year, the 26-year-old Griekspoor was very positive about the relationship between the Dutch tennis players. They work well together in Davis Cup, they help each other in tournaments. “We support each other and make each other better. Hopefully more trophies will come,” he praised the situation between his Dutch partners.

Griekspoor’s journey through the tournament

Griekspoor’s strength on his home course is his service. In his first three matches, he lost it only twice. In Friday’s match he achieved a 67% first serve success rate, something no one else managed in the quarter-finals in Hertogenbosch.

In the opening rounds he met tennis players from the second half of the world top 100, the Swede Ymer and the Australian Popyrin. In the quarter-finals, he then faced world No. 18 Alex De Minaur.

The third match on the grass courts in Hertogenbosch was the most challenging yet for the home player. at the end of the first set, the Haarlem native lost his serve. However, this was the first and last time that will happen. At least on Friday. Griekspoor dominated the rest of the match and after 4::6, 6::3, 6::4 he is looking forward to Saturday’s semi-final.

The semifinals and the upcoming Wimbledon

It is hard to say whether the home player was looking forward to a rematch with tournament runner-up Sinner. The latter knocked him out at Rotterdam in February this year. Finn Ruusuvuori strongly opposed a repeat of the Griekspoor-Sinner duel. He has beaten the Italian and is looking forward to a duel with the home tennis player.

The match between Tallon Griekspoor and Emil Ruusuvuori will be a battle of neighbours in the rankings. Both players are close to the 40th position on the rankings and if successful will be close to the 32nd position, which ensures a favorable position among the seeded players for the next tournaments. Including Wimbledon, which starts in just a fortnight.

Source: ATP