Alexander Zverev prevailed in one of the best sets so far at the 2024 Indian Wells Open during his contest against Tallon Griekspoor.
Zverev had ended a two-match losing streak in his first-round victory at the Masters event in California. He was not at his very best in that match but did enough to get an important triumph.
It certainly was not the level we saw at times from the German at the Australian Open. The German stunningly defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne, before losing an enthralling semifinal in five sets against Daniil Medvedev.
Zverev's form has been patchy since that heartbreaking loss to Medvedev. A deep run in Indian Wells would be the ideal way for the 26-year-old to fully put that setback behind him.
Griekspoor is a very dangerous opponent when he finds his range. His serve and forehand are particularly formidable, and the Dutchman showed that in a superb first set between the two players.
Griekspoor struck early in the set. In the third game, he piled on the pressure with some big-hitting, and Zverev did not have the answers to cope. The Dutchman took his second break point to lead 2-1.
There were many excellent shots from both players, including an outrageous drop-volley from Zverev off a ball fired at his feet by Grieskpoor. But it seemed like the German was not going to break the Grieskpoor serve in the first set.
However, the 2020 US Open runner-up responded just in time at 5-4. Some uncharacteristic loose play from Griekspoor saw him trail 0-40, and despite saving the first break point, Zverev took the second to level the set 5-5.
A tiebreak was then needed to decide the set, and Griekspoor had two set points at 6-4 up. Yet, Zverev stayed cool under pressure, while Griekspoor cracked to leave the score at 6-6.
Although Griekspoor won an incredible point to save a set point himself at 7-6, Zverev won the next two points to win the tiebreak 9-7. Grieskpoor furiously smashed his racket after losing a set he should have won.
The first six games of the second were mostly uneventful, but Zverev then made his move in the 7th game. There were some brutal rallies in the slow Indian Wells conditions, but the German hung in to get the first break of the set.
Zverev closed out the match with another break of serve. On his third match point in the 9th game, he sealed a 7-6 6-3 victory.
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