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Arab star Ons Jabeur fights through pain, but comes up short against Peyton Stearns in Dubai

Arab star Ons Jabeur fights through pain, but comes up short against Peyton Stearns in Dubai
Ons Jabeur in action against Peyton Stearns during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2025. (SUPPLIED)
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Updated 18 February 2025
Arab News
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Arab star Ons Jabeur fights through pain, but comes up short against Peyton Stearns in Dubai

Arab star Ons Jabeur fights through pain, but comes up short against Peyton Stearns in Dubai
  • ‘I didn’t want to just retire,’ says Arab No. 1 Jabeur, who was appearing at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for first time since 2022, as emirate celebrates 25-year anniversary of its WTA event
Updated 18 February 2025
Arab News
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DUBAI: Ons Jabeur let a lead slip and grimaced in pain as she crashed out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday night, falling in the first round to American Peyton Stearns 6-7(6), 4-6 in front of a vocal Centre Court crowd.

The Tunisian, a former world No. 2 who became the first Arab to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon three years ago, had been forced to miss the past two editions of the Dubai tournament through injury.

Yet she was determined to be a part of this year’s lineup, which marks the landmark 25th anniversary of the women’s event in the emirate.

Enjoying strong support inside the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium with a series of Tunisian flags dotted among the crowd, the three-time Grand Slam finalist raced into the lead, breaking Stearns in the American’s first service game.

Yet she was unable to capitalize and allowed her opponent — ranked 14 places below her at No. 46 — back into the tie after serving a double fault on a break point in the fourth game.

Jabeur even managed to break again and found herself serving for the first set, but failed to close it out, and throwing her racquet on the ground in anger.

During a tight tie-break, another double fault saw Jabeur hand Stearns the momentum at 5-6 and the American went on to convert her first set point to claim the opener.

“Peyton is a really good player,” Jabeur said. “We practice a lot together, more last year and the year before, but yeah, she’s a tough opponent.

“She has a lot to improve for sure, but I see her in a much better ranking than this. I wish her all the best for the future. She handled moments very well during the match and hope she can make it very far.”

Jabeur is a resident of Dubai and was one of the most popular players in a field stacked with 36 of the top 40 women this week.

Understandably then, despite calling a medical timeout to assess her left thigh, she was keen to battle on, saving three break points in the opening exchanges of the second set.

It was not enough though and despite showing the fight for which she has become renowned, her service was broken in the third game and Stearns held on to complete a straight sets win.

“It was pretty tough today,” admitted Jabeur, who arrived in Dubai after quarterfinal runs in both Abu Dhabi and Doha in the past fortnight.

“I wasn’t 100 percent, obviously. I didn’t think I had enough time to recover from both tournaments, but I was there, trying my best. I didn’t want to just retire. I wanted to try more and see how it went.”

On her thigh issue, she added: “It’s nothing really serious. I just wasn’t feeling 100 percent physically. I feel I’ve been tired; I haven’t been sleeping as well as I was hoping to be sleeping.

“It was difficult to really recover from Abu Dhabi, Doha, and now to come here. I felt it was like a long tour for me. I was hoping to really play good here, but unfortunately it wasn’t the case.”

For her part, Stearns — making only her second appearance in the emirate — stood up to the challenge when it mattered most to claim an 11th career win against a top-50 player.

She faces another tough test on Tuesday against No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen of China.

“I’m super happy with myself that I stayed in the match,” said Stearns. “I fought hard, dug deep, and all that good stuff. Ons is a great player and also a great person. It’s never fun playing those kind of people, but I knew I would need to play well against her.”

Earlier in the day, No. 13 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia was eliminated by Anastasia Potapova 3-6, 0-6 before No. 10 seed Daria Kasatkina also lost 1-6, 6-4 to Romanian wildcard Sorana Cirstea.

Jelena Ostapenko — the winner here in 2022 — also slipped out in the first round, with Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima claiming a memorable 6-3, 6-3 win.

Tuesday will have the eight top seeds get their Dubai 2025 campaigns underway, with all four of the world’s leading players in action on Centre Court.

Reigning Dubai champion Jasmine Paolini meets German qualifier Eva Lys in the day’s first match, before world No. 2 Iga Swiatek faces Victoria Azarenka, and No. 3 seed Coco Gauff takes on fellow American McCartney Kessler.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will be in the last match of the day, when she meets 2022 finalist Veronika Kudermetova.

The 25th edition of the annual WTA 1000 event is running until Feb. 22, before the 33rd staging of Dubai’s ATP Tour 500 tournament from Feb. 24 to March 1.

Topics: Ons Jabeur Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

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Alcaraz blows past Dimitrov into Indian Wells quarters, Keys battles through

Alcaraz blows past Dimitrov into Indian Wells quarters, Keys battles through
Updated 13 March 2025
AFP
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Alcaraz blows past Dimitrov into Indian Wells quarters, Keys battles through

Alcaraz blows past Dimitrov into Indian Wells quarters, Keys battles through
  • Britain’s Jack Draper delivered a masterclass to stun 2022 champion Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4
  • World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus got past an early hiccup, dropping her serve in the opening game before rolling to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over British lucky loser Sonay Kartal
Updated 13 March 2025
AFP

INDIAN WELLS, California: Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz blew past Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals, keeping his bid for a rare three-peat on course.

The world No. 3 from Spain defied the difficult windy conditions on Stadium Court to deliver a dominant performance against a player who had won their past two encounters — including in the quarterfinals at the Miami Open last year.

Alcaraz took another step in his bid to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight Indian Wells titles.

Alcaraz appeared largely untroubled by the gusty winds that had ball kids scampering after blowing trash and changed the trajectories of some shots.

“Today with the conditions, it was really tough for both,” he said. “I had to survive. I always say in these conditions, you have to survive no matter what. I’m very happy that I was able to play long rallies. I got a good rhythm, even with the conditions.”

Alcaraz didn’t face a break point until the fifth game of the second set, and worked his way out of that jam with an ace on Dimitrov’s third break chance.

Alcaraz polished it off in style, giving himself a match point with his sixth ace of the match and sealing the win with a forehand winner.

He will play Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the semifinals. Cerundolo beat world No. 10 Alex de Minaur of Australia 7-5, 6-3.

Britain’s Jack Draper delivered a masterclass to stun 2022 champion Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4.

Draper won seven straight games to seize a 7-5, 4-0 lead over the world number four. Fritz gave him some tense moments with a late break of serve before Draper served it out on his second opportunity.

“It is the best match I have played here so far in the three years I have been here,” Draper said.

Draper next faces Ben Shelton, who became the only American man in the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 victory over compatriot Brandon Nakashima.

The only US woman in the last eight is Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who battled past Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 to book a meeting with resurgent Belinda Bencic, who ousted third-ranked American Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

On the back foot early, Keys failed to convert a set point in the 10th game of the second set and was two points from defeat in the tiebreaker when Vekic took a 5-3 lead.

Keys gutted out the breaker and gave herself some breathing room when she broke the Croatian to open the third.

“At some point, I just felt like it was ‘do or die,’ probably five-all in the second-set tiebreaker,” Keys said.

“I kind of just decided that I was going to go for a little bit more, and (I’m) really happy to be able to get that match and get that win and play another match here.”

Bencic also had to rally to reach her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal since becoming a mother last year.

She dominated Gauff to avenge a fourth-round loss to the American at the Australian Open this year.

Bencic, who was unranked when she returned to the tour in October, claimed her ninth career title in Abu Dhabi last month and has risen to 58th in the world.

She said her improving fitness was a factor in her ability to best Gauff in three sets this time, when she couldn’t back in January.

“What changed is that I just kept on working also on the physical side,” Bencic said. “The body is holding up much better, almost like it was before.”

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus got past an early hiccup, dropping her serve in the opening game before rolling to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over British lucky loser Sonay Kartal.

Sabalenka will next face 24th-ranked Russian Liudmila Samsonova, who surprised world No. 6 Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-0, 6-4.

Topics: Grigor Dimitrov Carlos Alcaraz

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Medvedev tops Paul to reach quarterfinals at rainy Indian Wells

Medvedev tops Paul to reach quarterfinals at rainy Indian Wells
Updated 12 March 2025
AFP
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Medvedev tops Paul to reach quarterfinals at rainy Indian Wells

Medvedev tops Paul to reach quarterfinals at rainy Indian Wells
  • Denmark’s Holger Rune beat in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4
  • Women’s defending champion Iga Swiatek had to wait out a near-hour delay before getting started, but once she did she produced another brutally efficient 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova
Updated 12 March 2025
AFP

INDIAN WELLS, California: Russia’s Daniil Medvedev shook off a day of rain delays to beat Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday and reach the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, where he’s vying to improve on runner-up finishes the past two years.

Taking the court around 10:00 pm, four hours after he was slated to open the night session on Stadium Court, Medvedev took full advantage of Paul’s 31 unforced errors.

“It wasn’t an easy preparation,” Medvedev said. “We both were here early and then rain, rain, rain. I think we both went in rusty, he a little bit more than I did.”

Paul had his opportunities, rallying after Medvedev jumped to a 4-0 lead to win four straight games.

But Medvedev won the next eight — pocketing the first set on a pair of Paul forehand errors then racing through the second to seal it with one final break of the American’s serve.

“Pretty strange score,” Medvedev said. “Whoever won some games won them in a row.”

Medvedev, who fell to Carlos Alcaraz in each of the last two finals, next faces France’s Arthur Fils, a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 winner over American Marcos Giron in a match halted for more than three hours by rain in the first set.

Women’s defending champion Iga Swiatek had to wait out a near-hour delay before getting started, but once she did she produced another brutally efficient 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova, beating the worst of the weather.

The world No. 2 from Poland needed just 57 minutes to put away Muchova, who took her to three sets in the 2023 French Open final.

Swiatek, the 2022 and 2024 winner, didn’t face a break point as she continued her bid to become the first woman to win three titles in the California desert.

She said the weather was an extra spur to finish it quickly, especially after the rain came again near the end of the contest.

“On last two games it was a bit slippery already, but I really wanted to finish. So I kind of played more risky, but the shots were still in,” said Swiatek, who will face China’s Zheng Qinwen for a place in the semifinals.

Zheng rolled past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2.

The off-and-on showers caused multiple delays.

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, ranked 23rd, shrugged off the three-hour stoppage at the start of her third set to upset world No. 4 Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

“Definitely was not easy with all the conditions and the rain, stop and start,” Svitolina said. “Warmed up maybe like 10 times today.”

Svitolina booked a meeting with 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva, who beat 2023 Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-2.

Andreeva has now won two matches in three weeks against world number seven Rybakina — a former Wimbledon champion. She beat Rybakina in the semifinals in Dubai on the way to becoming the youngest ever WTA 1000 champion.

In other men’s matches, Denmark’s Holger Rune beat in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4.

Greece’s Tsitsipas was coming off his first title in nearly a year in Dubai last month, but Rune, ranked 13th, snapped the world No. 9’s seven-match ATP win streak with an aggressive game that included 22 winners.

Up 4-3 in the second set, Rune saved a break point with a dazzling between-the-legs shot, racing back to the baseline after a Tsitsipas lob and batting the tweener that dropped perfectly to deny the Greek.

“Mentally, I was very, very good,” Rune said. “I think that’s what made the difference — how composed I was able to stay.”

Rune next faces 43rd-ranked Tallon Griekspoor, who upset top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round.

Griekspoor also made a belated start and waited out a second-set delay in his 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 victory over Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki.

Topics: Daniil Medvedev

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King of sarcasm: Daniil Medvedev on speaking his mind, adjusting to slow courts, and making the most of Sinner’s absence

King of sarcasm: Daniil Medvedev on speaking his mind, adjusting to slow courts, and making the most of Sinner’s absence
Updated 12 March 2025
Reem Abulleil
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King of sarcasm: Daniil Medvedev on speaking his mind, adjusting to slow courts, and making the most of Sinner’s absence

King of sarcasm: Daniil Medvedev on speaking his mind, adjusting to slow courts, and making the most of Sinner’s absence
  • Russian former world No. 1 tennis star recently spoke to Arab News in Dubai about his plans to recapture his best form
Updated 12 March 2025
Reem Abulleil

After his opening round victory in the Indian Wells Open tennis tournament a few days ago, Daniil Medvedev scribbled a sarcastic message on the camera lens.

“6-2, 6-2, 1h 36m, very fast courts,” wrote the former world No. 1.

Medvedev has never been a fan of the slow hard courts at Indian Wells.

One of his most famous mid-match rants came at this very tournament two years ago when he became so frustrated at the speed of the court, he told the umpire between sets: “It’s a disgrace to sport, this court. It’s not a hard court. I know what is hard court, I’m a specialist on hard court.”

This year, the courts have been redone and several players have said they felt the surface has been playing faster than usual. Not Medvedev, though, who made sure to point out that his 6-2, 6-2 win over Bu Yunchaokete last Friday should not have taken him more than 90 minutes to complete. 

 

 

 

Last month in Dubai, Medvedev mocked the net-cam for failing to show whether his opponent had touched the net or not on a video replay, and suggested on social media he should be refunded the $60,000 fine he paid for breaking the net-cam during the Australian Open a few weeks earlier.

“What is this $60k camera doing there, if it cannot show if he touched the net or not?” said Medvedev in the post-match press conference.

Whether he is losing his cool on court, taunting the crowd, or speaking his mind in press, Medvedev has become a fan favorite for being both funny and authentic. Even his peers find his openness refreshing, with one player recently telling me he particularly enjoys watching Medvedev’s press conferences because “he is true to himself.”

Medvedev found that amusing when I told him and did not hesitate when I asked him if he had a personal favorite public speaker.

“I definitely love Jose Mourinho. That’s my favorite one,” Medvedev replied in a recent interview in Dubai.

“He’s the king of sarcasm. I can be like this sometimes, but I don’t really, in a way, like to do it during press. I could be, but in press I try to be more serious. But I absolutely love his sarcasm. It’s like so on point all the time. Because there is sarcasm, which you are like looking and you think it’s stupid, but he’s on point 99 percent of the time.”

 

 

 

 

Most people will say that Medvedev’s sarcasm is also “on point,” although he admits he sometimes should hold back when he is on court.

“The thing is that here (in press), I speak what I think,” he said in Indian Wells this week.

“On the court sometimes I say things which I don’t really think. It’s just because of the adrenaline, the stakes, the pressure of the moment, I sometimes say things which after the game I can clearly say I did not think this, it’s not true.”

Has he ever been discouraged by anyone from his entourage to be less forthcoming to avoid controversy?

“I could be discouraged, but only from myself,” he said.

Tennis can be seen as a polished sport, with most players advised to keep things diplomatic when speaking to the press, especially in this age of social media when statements can easily be taken out of context.

It is why someone like Medvedev can stand out, as one of a only a few who try to share their honest thoughts about difficult subject matter.

As an entertainment product, tennis faces stiff competition from other major sports and the endless content available on streaming platforms. Medvedev is a sports fan and realizes tennis can be lagging in certain areas on the business front, but is unsure what the tour can adopt from other leagues or disciplines in order to boost its popularity.

“When I look at tennis as a sport and what it is and which players we have and how many people watch it, that there could have been something that much better and maybe tennis would be... I would not be surprised if it would be even second after football, maybe, which it’s not in a way,” he said.

“But for this, I don’t know what needs to be done.

“I’m sure that something could have been done better because I see that tennis is struggling in some parts of business. And at the same time, I’m not the one to change it.”

 

 

 

 

One thing that has kept tennis in the headlines in recent weeks is the three-month ban handed to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol, which authorities accepted was transmitted into his system via an over-the-counter cream used by his former physiotherapist to treat a wound in his hand.

Sinner, who won eight titles last season, including two Grand Slams, will be out of action until May. Does Medvedev believe the Italian’s absence can open the door for him to scoop some silverware?

“It depends because in the big picture, not having Sinner, who’s winning probably lately one out of two tournaments he’s in, maybe even a bit more, is definitely favorable in terms of results for everyone on the tour, not only me, literally everyone,” said Medvedev.

“And at the same time, the way my results were lately, I don’t care in a way about Sinner because last many, many tournaments, I haven’t even faced him because I was not far enough to face him. So it depends.

“But I like what Carlos (Alcaraz) said, that the most important is to look at yourself, try to do what you can best, win matches. You play Sinner, you try to win, you play someone else, you try to win, and that’s the most important.”

In Medvedev’s own words, his start to the season has been “slow,” with an early exit at the Australian Open and just one semifinal appearance in five tournaments contested so far in 2025.

The 29-year-old dropped out of the top five in January, for the first time in two years and is ranked No. 6 this fortnight at Indian Wells.

Owner of 20 career titles, Medvedev has not lifted a champion’s trophy since May 2023, which he mostly attributes to the heavier balls introduced by the ATP Tour in recent years.

“It brings some disadvantages to some players. It brings some advantages to some others. And that’s normal. The only thing I’m asking is, we have slow balls, no problem. We have slow courts, no problem. Let’s sometimes make fast balls and fast courts. Fast courts do exist. Fast balls, I don’t think they exist anymore,” he said.

“And that’s a problem for some players. So when some players go down the rankings and we’re like, upset, upset, upset. No, there is a real reason for this.”

 

 

 

 

Some players, like Stefanos Tsitsipas, have reacted to the introduction of slow balls by making some drastic changes, like switching their equipment. Tsitsipas recently changed his racket, using a blacked-out-framed Babolat instead of his previous Wilson, and immediately won the title in Dubai as a result.

Medvedev describes himself as someone who is “resistant to change,” but admits he has tinkered with strings and some specs to his racquet in the past in an attempt to adapt to the new conditions on tour.

He remains convinced he can get back to winning ways with these balls in play, but it remains a work in progress.

“In 2023, the balls were already like this and I managed to win, what was it, four out of five tournaments. So, I can do it. I need a lot of confidence. I need a lot of mental toughness, which maybe sometimes I didn’t have lately,” he said.

“But I can do it. This, I’m sure. What I always said, this put some disadvantages to my game because I know my strong sides. It kind of keeps my strong sides but makes my weak sides worse, the slow balls.

“Some other guys, it advantages them. It’s no problem to have it sometimes. I would love it 50/50. Sometimes fast balls, sometimes slow balls. But it’s not the case right now. I did already try many different things: racket, strings, whatever. Some worked, but then the other tournament they don’t work.”

Medvedev feels he has played many close matches this year and not finding his best at the most important moments is what cost him dearly. He is certain those slim margins will swing his way sooner or later.

“When I play good, I’m one of the best in the world and I want to try to find it again,” he said.

Edging closer to the 30-and-over club, Medvedev maintains he is as hungry as ever to contend with the world’s best.

He said the love of competition is what drives him the most, and it is something that has never waned.

“I like to compete. A lot of things we as tennis players do, you know, I just came from the lounge and there, I see like three tables playing cards and they all want to win. And that’s how we are,” he said.

“We play games, someone on the phone, PlayStation, cards. Even when I have a car trip, if it’s more than three, four hours, we try to find games to play when you are in the car, you know, let’s count, I don’t know, yellow cars, whatever.

“So, for me, it’s about competition. I like to compete. I like to win. I miss it a little bit and I’m trying my best to find it back.”

Topics: Daniil Medvedev

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Djokovic crashes out at Indian Wells as Alcaraz sails through

Djokovic crashes out at Indian Wells as Alcaraz sails through
Updated 09 March 2025
AFP
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Djokovic crashes out at Indian Wells as Alcaraz sails through

Djokovic crashes out at Indian Wells as Alcaraz sails through
  • Italian Matteo Arnaldi sprung another upset, beating seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-5
  • Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a 7-6 (7/4, 6-3 victory over rising US talent McCartney Kessler
Updated 09 March 2025
AFP

INDIAN WELLS, California: Five-time champion Novak Djokovic tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Saturday, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champ Carlos Alcaraz advanced.

“No excuses for a poor performance,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat.

“It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court,” he added. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.”

Djokovic is just the latest in van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims.

He stunned Alcaraz at the US Open last year before beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in what proved the Spanish great’s last match.

“I think I kept my cool during the whole match,” said van de Zandschulp. “I know if I go into the match and lose my cool, especially against the big players, it’s going to be a really tough day. That’s always one thing I’m trying to do well.”

After 14 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic cleaned things up in the second, grabbing a quick break on the way to a 3-0 lead.

Djokovic pumped his fist after belting a forehand winner to the corner for his first break chance of the match and after consolidating the break nodded his head in satisfaction.

The rallies remained tense affairs and Djokovic’s frustration was clear at times, but after he was broken when serving for the set he closed it out on his next service game.

It was only a brief respite. Van de Zandschulp kept the pressure on both from the baseline and at the net and Djokovic’s errors began to pile up again.

Van de Zandschulp took control with a break for 3-1, reeling off the last five games as Djokovic was unable to stop the bleeding.

“The first three games, four games of the third set were quite close,” Djokovic, seeded sixth, said. “Had my chances. Was just some awful mistakes.”

Italian Matteo Arnaldi sprung another upset, beating seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-5. Djokovic and Rublev followed top seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Casper Ruud as second-round casualties.

With Zverev out and world No. 1Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, world number three Alcaraz is the highest seed left in the men’s draw.

Alcaraz, trying to join Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only men to win three straight Indian Wells titles, eased into his defense with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over France’s Quentin Halys.

He admitted he was feeling some nerves to start the match, but they evaporated amid a strong all-around performance.

One early break staked Alcaraz to the first set. He roared to a 4-0 lead in the second behind a formidable service display and wrapped up the win in 67 minutes.

“I was nervous at the beginning of the match,” he told a supportive crowd. “The first match is never easy so I was trying to be focused on my game.

“I just tried to be relaxed, as relaxed as I can. Can always be better, but I’m ready for the (next) round and excited.”

Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a 7-6 (7/4, 6-3 victory over rising US talent McCartney Kessler.

Madison Keys, who denied Sabalenka a third straight Australian Open title as she claimed her long awaited first Grand Slam in Melbourne, subdued hard-hitting Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-0 in her first match since then.

Americans Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff — seeded third in their respective draws, both advanced.

Fritz, the 2022 men’s champion, defeated Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante 7-5, 6-3.

Gauff survived 21 double faults to claw out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.

Topics: Djokovic

Griekspoor stuns top-seeded Zverev, avenges French Open heartbreak

Griekspoor stuns top-seeded Zverev, avenges French Open heartbreak
Updated 08 March 2025
AFP
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Griekspoor stuns top-seeded Zverev, avenges French Open heartbreak

Griekspoor stuns top-seeded Zverev, avenges French Open heartbreak
  • It was a cherished win for Griekspoor, who had lost five straight matches — including four last year — to the German
  • American Marcos Giron joined Griekspoor in posting his first win over a top-five player, upsetting fourth seed Casper Ruud 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-2
  • Iga Swiatek, the women’s defending champion in this combined ATP and WTA 1000 event, eased through her opener 6-2, 6-0 against French veteran Caroline Garcia
Updated 08 March 2025
AFP

INDIAN WELLS: Tallon Griekspoor stunned top-seeded Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) in the second round at Indian Wells on Friday, avenging a devastating loss to the German at Roland Garros last year.

Zverev, the world No. 2 who is heading the field of the prestigious ATP Masters event with No. 1 Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, is the first Indian Wells men’s top seed to lose his opening match since Andy Murray in 2017.

It was a cherished win for Griekspoor, who had lost five straight matches — including four last year — to the German.

That included a five-setter at the French Open in which Griekspoor was up a double break in the fifth in a defeat he called “absolute heartbreak.”

“It was such a mental thing. I played so many battles against him and had chances but they all went his way,” said Griekspoor, who claimed his first victory over a top-five player in his 19th attempt.

“I am incredibly proud of myself from this performance and to get it over the line,” the 28-year-old added.

Broken to trail 5-6 in the third set, Zverev saved five match points in a dramatic 12th game, finally converting his fifth break point of the game to force the tiebreaker.

But Griekspoor sealed it on his first chance in the decider.

The defeat in a tension-packed Stadium Court clash continued a lackluster run for Zverev since he fell to Sinner in the Australian Open final. Following that loss he has made early exits at Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco.

“I always struggle against him,” Zverev said of Griekspoor. “He played a good match. There’s no question about that. But I have to look at myself a little bit, and it’s nowhere near where I want to be.”

American Marcos Giron joined Griekspoor in posting his first win over a top-five player, upsetting fourth seed Casper Ruud 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-2.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz the past two years, moved on with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 71st-ranked Bu Yunchaokete of China.

Fifth-seeded Medvedev, bundled up against the cold desert night air with leggings under his shorts and long sleeves, dropped his serve to open the match.

But he broke back immediately and was never seriously threatened despite the wealth of long rallies.

“I’ll be surprised if he had more than five winners in the match,” Medvedev said. “I just knew that I have to put the ball in court and run.”

Iga Swiatek, the women’s defending champion in this combined ATP and WTA 1000 event, eased through her opener 6-2, 6-0 against French veteran Caroline Garcia.

“I’m happy that I was solid until the end, and I’m just happy that I adjusted to the conditions well,” said Swiatek, who played as the late afternoon temperture dropped and the breeze picked up.

“First matches are not easy, and didn’t know what to expect from Caro, but I’m happy that I could dominate from the beginning.”

Swiatek converted six of her nine break points and was broken only once in the 61-minute victory.

Fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula also powered through, beating Poland’s Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2.

“Honestly, I think it was just handling the conditions,” Pegula said. “I felt like I was able to handle the side with the wind pretty well and really take advantage of using that for my serve ... and then just being a little gritty and digging out some tough points on the side that was against the wind.”

Mirra Andreeva, the 17-year-old Russian, who became the youngest ever WTA 1000 champion in Dubai last month, battled back from 0-4 down in the second set to beat France’s 70th-ranked Varvara Gracheva 7-5, 6-4 in another windblown, error-laden late match.

Andreeva, seeded ninth, booked a third-round meeting with Denmark’s Clara Tauson, the woman she beat in the Dubai final.

Tauson advanced with a 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 victory over Colombian Camila Osorio, who had ousted four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the first round.

Topics: French Open Alexander Zverev Allen Griekspoor

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