The first week of grass tournaments on the ATP tour is done. Griekspoor wins in Hertogenbosch and Tiafoe wins the Boss Open.
Tiafoe wins the Boss Open
I wrote about my Boss Open experience in my previous post. It’s a great tournament to visit, and I enjoy it every year. This was Frances Tiafoe’s first time there, though, and I am sure he is even happier about his experience than mine. I thought Struff would be tough in the final as he played at home with an amazing serve and confidence the whole week. But when it went down to the wire, Tiafoe was the strongest player and got the title after an amazing rally in the third set tie-break. The score: 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(8).
“That tie-break was wild. It was back and forth, crazy point at 6/5. It was neck and neck,” Tiafoe said. “He served so well, I wasn’t able to break for three sets but I stayed with and I could not be happier with my effort.
Tiafoe not only gets the trophy and the prize money, but he also moves into the top 10 of the ATP rankings, which is an important milestone in his career.
“I have now won a title on all three surfaces. It shows I am a complete player and when I am locked in I can compete on all three surfaces.”
It was a tough loss for Struff, who has now lost three tour finals and is yet to win his first ATP title. But if he keeps on playing like this, I’m sure it will come.
Griekspoor wins in Hertogenbosch
Do you remember last year’s winner, Tim Van Rijthoven? This year, in Hertogenbosch, at the Libema Open, we had another home winner in Tallon Griekspoor. He overcame nerves and Jordan Thompson in a tightly fought final 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3. It was his second ATP title.
The sixth seed clawed past Jordan Thompson for an emotional victory at the grass-court ATP 250 in the Netherlands. Griekspoor held his nerve in the second-set tie-break before claiming the only break of serve in the decider in the sixth game to wrap a two-hour, 35-minute victory and claim his second ATP Tour title.
“[I want to] thank the crowd for getting me through today,” said Griekspoor. “In finals, it’s so tough to play your best tennis. I had so many nerves today, I felt so tight today. I wanted it so badly. He was playing great. I had to try and focus on my own game and try and hang in there.
“Somehow I won the second-set tie-break and got it my way in the third, so [I have] no words for this one.”
This week on the grass
This week we have ATP 500 action on the grass, with tournaments in Halle and Queens. Who do you think will win?
