Griekspoor on Sinner: 'Absolutely on fire'

Tallon Griekspoor is well aware of the challenge that lays ahead for him in the third round of the Miami Open presented by Itau. The Dutchman expects a tough test against reigning Australian Open champion and second seed Jannik Sinner.

“It's very clear that he's on a roll. He's probably the player to beat these days. He's been on fire so far this season,” Griekspoor said. “I played him in Rotterdam most recently. He destroyed me the first set. I had actually some chances in the second.

“[I am] just trying to do better every time I step out there. You know he's going to be in good shape. I'm feeling good, and I know it's going to be a very difficult challenge.”

The 27-year-old has played all three of his Lexus ATP Head2Head matches against Sinner in the past 13 months. Sinner has won in straight sets on all three occasions.

Their first clash came last February in the Rotterdam semi-finals. Sinner, then World No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was not quite the dominant force he has since become. They then played at the end of the year in the Davis Cup Finals and again this February in the Rotterdam semi-finals.

“Back then he was already on a roll. He was chasing the Top 10. Back then it was all very new for me. This year I was more used to it a little bit,” Griekspoor said. “But then with him coming from winning Melbourne, he was absolutely on fire in Rotterdam. He played so well. I actually played really well there as well, but he was unbeatable there.”

Griekspoor does not see “too big of a difference” in Sinner’s tennis since their first meeting. But the Italian has gained a lot of confidence, which has helped him swing more freely.

“I would say he's just so much more confident now. He won a lot of things. He won a Slam, I think that took a lot of pressure from him,” Griekspoor said. “That's how it's seems to me — that he's even more loose now. Pressure is gone, he's going for his shots. And when he's confident, when he goes for his shots, he's playing so unbelievably well.”

Sinner lost his first match of 2024 in the Indian Wells semi-finals to Carlos Alcaraz. But Griekspoor does not expect any residual effects from that defeat.

“I don't think it will make him think a lot but it's going to be tough anyway,” Griekspoor said. “You just have to hope for little chances here and there and be on top of him and try to take them. But it's going to be very, very hard.”

The Italian is one of the most powerful ball-strikers in the sport and is often able to control the action. Griekspoor explained that it is key to serve well and battle deep into sets with the 22-year-old.

“If he breaks you early, what happened to me in Rotterdam is he broke me early. He kind of got away from me quite early, he started to play very, very loose, went for his shots,” Griekspoor said. “When he's in the lead, when he's a break up, he’s very tough to break back and to beat. I guess trying to stay with him early in the match is an important thing. But that's also not easy since he's an amazing player.”

It has been an interesting week for Griekspoor, Sinner and the rest of the Miami field. Almost all of Friday’s action was wiped out due to rain and action did not begin Saturday until around 2 p.m.

“I actually went back to the hotel [Friday]. I took the risk to go back. Had to come back on site. Knew the chance was really small to play. But still, you have to be ready, somehow, some way, eating, preparing yourself,” Griekspoor said. “At some point, you get cancelled. You want to get out of here as soon as possible.

“Today, this morning, you come and you know it's going to be tough to play. But anyway, you have to be here, you have to be ready, you have to make yourself ready."

The Dutchman is staying in Aventura, closer to Hard Rock Stadium than some other players, which gave him more time to go back to the hotel for two hours. How did he spend the rest of his downtime?

“Playing cards with the coaches, having some chats with other players, other people. Sitting in the locker room. Watching some other sports on TV. It's basically just sitting, relaxing, taking a little nap, listening to some music here and there. Trying to waste some time, like yesterday.”

After the series of delays, Griekspoor won a tough match against 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF competitor Alex Michelsen 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-4 in two hours and 42 minutes. He will now prepare to face Sinner for the fourth time.

“I like the challenge. I like to challenge the best players in the world,” Griekspoor said. “I know it's going to be very tough, but hopefully there will be some chances and then it's up to me to take those chances.”