Alexander Zverev avoided a limit situation in the face of a Tallon Grieskspoor which was very close to giving one of the biggest hits of the tournament. The Dutchman was up by a double break in the fifth set, but was overcome by nerves in a final stretch in which Sascha displayed his great champion virtues. He ended up winning 3-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-6 (10-3) and is in the round of 16 Roland Garros 2024.
Traps along the way, obstacles that should not be there and are erected into impregnable walls, unfortunate days in terms of play and sensations in which tournaments are not won, but they are lost. That’s what was found Alexander Zverev In this third round of Roland Garros 2024with a very inspired Tallon Griekspoor who offered a sublime show and took advantage of the humid conditions and retractable roof, so that his game reached a higher status. Dutch and German offered a show that is worth recounting in detail.
From the opening stages of first set, it was clear that Griekspoor was having one of those days when he feels the ball perfectly and his confidence is through the roof. As bold as he was precise in his attacks, Tallon took advantage of the fact that Sascha started the match somewhat timid and, probably, did not expect such an excellent version from his rival. The German had two breaking points, but could not get back into a set that the Dutchman deservedly won.
A reaction from the great favorite to the victory was expected, but it was not abrupt, far from it. In fact, in the second sleeve Zverev seemed on the brink of the abyss as he was still very uncomfortable, especially with his drive, and could not get rid of the incessant pressure that the Dutchman exerted from the back of the court, getting inside and taking risks every time he had the opportunity. The serve ruled, but the German raised the level in the tenth game and achieved the long-awaited break, letting out a cry of contained tension and relief when he evened the score.
The party had completely changed its tendency already in the third partial, perceiving a Griekspoor who was more standing on his legs and who was unable to play with the electricity and intensity necessary to continue imposing his style. He had some threat of a skirmish that was perfectly stifled by a Zverev who began to fume and gave himself many reasons to be optimistic about the final outcome, which seemed close.
However, if this sport has something, it is that in the blink of an eye, things can change completely, especially in Grand Slam matches. What was experienced in the fourth sleeve It was a tactical lesson on the part of Grieskpoor, who began to masterfully execute changes of pace, height and speed, using his sliced backhand with great intelligence and breaking the ball with his drive whenever I had the chance. To this he added drops and raises to the net, the result of regained confidence and the feeling that Sascha was still vulnerable.
– Grieskpoor led 4-1 and served in the fifth set
Nothing of the foreseeable had happened and we presented ourselves in a fifth set of uncertain prognosis and assured spectacle. Aware that he was at his limit, Zverev took his tennis a step further, getting inside the court, hitting the ball high and being aggressive. That desire to change lasted very little, thanks to the impressive level of play of Grieskpoor, who reached a 4-1 advantage and service. At that moment, Sascha held on to the match as only the best know how to do.
Tallon was gripped by panic, from vertigo to glory, from uncontrollable nerves, and committed two double faults and childish errors in the eighth game, which marked the German’s definitive return to the match. Once he found himself down on the scoreboard again, the Dutchman improved again and managed to equalize the score and end up forcing an agonizing tiebreak, or rather, super tiebreak.
There was no color there. In that territory in which intangibles weigh, the upward trend, experience and packaging of the German ended up prevailing. Alexander Zverev ended up prevailing and doing a supreme survival exercise, which can claim its role as favorite for the title in this Roland Garros 2024.
