Jannik Sinner hits shot of the year contender in win over Tallon Griekspoor in Halle, boosting Wimbledon preparations
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Updated 19/06/2024 at 07:31 GMT
Jannik Sinner had to dig deep to claim a three-set win over Tallon Griekspoor in the Halle Open first round. The Dutch No. 1 proved to be a formidable adversary for the new world No. 1 in Germany after taking the first set. However, Sinner recovered in this gruelling encounter to set up a second-round clash against Fabian Marozsan.
Defending champion Alcaraz breezes past Cerundolo in straight sets
Jannik Sinner recovered from dropping the first set to beat Tallon Griekspoor in the first round of the Halle Open.
The Italian had to dig deep to prevail 6-7(8) 6-3 6-2 and ensure his reign as the world No. 1 got off to a winning start.
He will play Fabian Marozsan in the next round as he continues his Wimbledon preparation.
The pair had never met on grass, but each played their part in a high-quality contest under the roof as the rain lashed down in Germany.
Griekspoor held serve in the opening game of the match but then failed to convert break point for a 2-0 lead, and that would prove to be the only break opportunity for either player in a tight first set.
Sinner threatened to dominate the tie-break when he raced into a 5-1 lead, but spurned two chances to claim the set as Griekspoor reeled off nine of 12 points to stun the Italian and seize the lead.
Griekspoor was immediately back on the attack in the second. He opened up 0-30 on Sinner’s serve before the Italian held, and then had three break points at 2-2.
But Sinner came up with some huge serves to hold as the momentum swung in his favour.
Griekspoor saved the first break point on his next service game but coughed up a second with a double fault before Sinner produced a shot-of-the-year contender to move 4-2 ahead.
The Italian saw out the set comfortably and proved too strong for his opponent in the decider.
He broke in the third game thanks to some devastating ground strokes, and did so again in the seventh to serve for the match.
Sinner did so with aplomb after taking an emphatic hold to love and curtailed the contest after two hours and 20 minutes of play.
Zverev Battles Past OttE
French Open runner-up Alexander Zverev also booked his place in the second round, although he found life much tougher than expected.
The second seed went the distance against fellow German Oscar Otte, whom he beat 6-7 6-3 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 19 minutes.
Zverev was playing his first match since Roland-Garros, having withdrawn from the Stuttgart Open last week because his body was "not ready".
And this was a sure test of the world No. 4's stamina, as he eventually scraped past an opponent ranked 470 places below him.
The 27-year-old fired down 17 aces in the first set, but was not able to force a single break point as a tie-break was required to separate the two compatriots.
It was Otte who took it 7-5, but he was unable to build on his advantage, dropping serve early in the second when Zverev took a 3-1 lead, eventually converting his third break point.
The world No. 474 had a chance to break back at 2-5, but after failing to convert, the set eventually went the way of his opponent.
That set up a tense finale, with Otte missing two further break point opportunities at 2-2, and then saving three in the next game.
But Zverev upped his game as the set went deeper, and broke to 15 for a 4-3 lead.
That gave Otte little time to fight back, and Zverev duly closed out the set without any cause for alarm, dropping just two points over his remaining service games.
He will play the Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the next round.
Tsitsipas also through in germany
Stefanos Tsitsipas is not famed for his grass court game, but he too progressed to the next round by beating home favourite Henri Squire.
The Greek, who got to the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, has never so much as reached a final on the surface.
But he started with a win in Halle, edging to a 7-6 7-6 victory.
Both sets were tight, especially the first, where Tsitsipas earned only one break point opportunity in the eighth game, only for his opponent to keep him at bay.
He eventually took the set on a lengthy tie break though, claiming it 9-7 to end a set that lasted 48 minutes.
The second set was even tighter, with neither player offering up a single break point, although Tsitsipas' serving was sensational, winning his first four serving games to love.
A tie break was inevitable again, and an early point against the serve gave the Greek the advantage as he raced to a 3-0 lead.
That was a huge blow to Squire, who would in fact win only the next two points, as Tsitisipas eventually look the set - and the match - with a 7-2 tie break victory.
Elsewhere, Marcus Giron caused an upset, beating fourth-seed and defending champion Andrey Rublev 6-4 7-6(5) in an hour and 29 minutes.
The American secured the only break of the first set and then moved a break ahead in the second.
He was pegged back by Rublev, who broke to restore parity at 3-3 before the set went with serve until the tie-break.
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