Tennis

Grigor Dimitrov has been in impressive form at the US Open, cruising through his first two matches with ease. However, he faces a tougher test in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor, who has also shown signs of improvement in New York.Dimitrov, the 20th seed, has yet to drop a set in the tournament, dispatching qualifier Kyrian Jacquet and Rinky Hijikata in straight sets. The Bulgarian is known for his all-court game and powerful groundstrokes, which have been on full display at Flushing Meadows.Griekspoor, on the other hand, has had a more up-and-down season but has found his rhythm in New York. The Dutchman, ranked 46th in the world, has won his first two matches in straight sets, including an impressive victory over world No. 23 Sebastian Baez.While Dimitrov is the clear favorite, Griekspoor has the potential to make this a competitive match. The Dutchman possesses a big serve and solid groundstrokes, and he has shown a willingness to go for his shots.One key factor in this match will be the ability to hold serve. Dimitrov is one of the best in the world at holding his serve, while Griekspoor is also a solid server. If both players are able to hold serve consistently, this match could go the distance.Another factor to consider is the amount of time spent on court. Griekspoor has spent significantly less time on court than Dimitrov in the first two rounds, which could give him an advantage in the later stages of the match.Overall, Dimitrov is the more experienced and talented player, but Griekspoor has the potential to make this a close match. If Griekspoor can serve well and keep Dimitrov off balance, he could cover the 6.5-game spread.

India's top tennis player, Sumit Nagal, suffered a disappointing exit from the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, after a straight-set defeat to Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor in the opening round.Nagal struggled with his first serve throughout the match, winning only 61% of those points. In contrast, Griekspoor dominated with his first serve, winning an impressive 87% of his points. The Dutchman also converted six of his 11 break chances, while Nagal managed to break his opponent twice.The match lasted for two hours and 20 minutes, with Nagal finding his rhythm late in the game. However, he made several unforced errors, which allowed Griekspoor to secure easy winners. Light rain briefly interrupted play in the second set, but Nagal resumed with determination.Despite his defeat in the singles, Nagal remains in the US Open as he is also competing in the men's doubles. He had a promising start to the season, qualifying for the Australian Open main draw and improving his ranking to secure his place in all four Grand Slams.While he won a main draw round in Melbourne, Nagal faced early exits in the subsequent Majors. Nevertheless, his participation in all Grand Slams of the 2024 season has significantly boosted his career. Prajnesh Gunneswaran was the last Indian to play in all Grand Slam singles main draws in 2019.In the men's doubles, India will be represented by Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, N Sriram Balaji, and Nagal, who will partner with different players.

Jannik Sinner's debut as the ATP's world No. 1 was a hard-fought battle against Tallon Griekspoor at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. Despite a disappointing end to the opening set, Sinner emerged victorious with a 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2 triumph.The match was a tale of two halves, with Griekspoor valiantly overcoming a 1-5 deficit in the tie-break to take the first set. However, Sinner's resilience shone through in the second set, as he recovered from 0-40 down on his serve and hustled to make a forehand pass winner.The pivotal moment came at 2-2 in the second set, when Sinner side-somersaulted to finish a diving movement for 4-2. This crucial point shifted the momentum in Sinner's favor, and he went on to protect his serve the rest of the way.In the deciding set, Sinner broke Griekspoor two more times before closing out the encounter with his 15th ace. The 22-year-old Italian reflected on the match, acknowledging the mental challenges he faced but also his ability to regain confidence on the grass surface.Sinner's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Fabian Marozsan, as he aims to lift his first grass-court trophy. The Italian's all-around performance, including his impressive serve and aggressive groundstrokes, bodes well for his chances in the tournament.

Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, faced a tough challenge from Tallon Griekspoor at the Miami Open on Sunday. After a hard-fought first set, Sinner rallied to secure a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 victory, advancing to the round of 16.Sinner's path to victory was not without its obstacles. Griekspoor, ranked 54th in the world, saved three break points in the fourth game of the first set and broke Sinner's serve in the seventh game. The Dutchman also saved a set point in the second set before Sinner finally broke through.After the rain delay, Sinner's aggression paid off. He won eight of the final nine games, including the last five in a row. Sinner's first serve was a key factor in his success, winning 47 of 54 points."Mentally I tried to stay really strong," Sinner said after the match. "I was in a tough situation today. After the rain, I tried to come back a little bit more aggressive."Sinner's victory was not the only Italian success on Sunday. Matteo Arnaldi, ranked 117th in the world, upset Denis Shapovalov, the 12th seed, 6-3, 7-6 (7). Arnaldi saved a set point in the second-set tiebreak to secure the win.Lorenzo Musetti, the 16th seed, also advanced to the round of 16 with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Roman Safiullin. Musetti will face Ben Shelton, the 18-year-old American who defeated Martin Landaluce, 6-3, 6-4.