Griekspoor’s breakout at Indian Wells: from setbacks to success

Dutch tennis player Tallon Griekspoor has been one of the surprises of the Indian Wells 2025 tournament, showing stability and confidence against top-level opponents.

His name was already making waves in Dubai, where he defeated world No. 6 Daniil Medvedev after saving four match points. That victory was a turning point for him—it was his first win over a top-10 player, proving his aggressive game was mature and ready for big results.

At Indian Wells, he confirmed his competitiveness by beating world No. 2 Alexander Zverev (6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(4)). Griekspoor became the first Dutchman to reach the quarterfinals of this tournament since 2000, and his ranking has climbed from No. 43 to No. 34 in the live rankings.

But his success is no accident. Last season, Griekspoor played 17 matches against top-10 opponents, including nine against top-3 players. Despite many losses, he gained the experience needed to compete at the highest level. Against Medvedev and Zverev, he played with confidence, attacking at the net even on match points.

One key to his progress has been improving his power from the baseline and becoming more effective on serve. Against Arthur Fils, he sealed the match with an ace, showing his confidence in crucial moments.

Next, Griekspoor faces Holger Rune, and at this point, a win wouldn’t be a surprise. His strong performances could boost interest in Dutch tennis, attract sponsors, and strengthen his position in the sports marketing world.

Cover photo: flickr.com/sirobi