Griekspoor makes it back-to-back semi-finals in Rotterdam

Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor is hitting a purple patch once again on home soil. The 27-year-old improved to 14-1 overall on Dutch soil sine the start of the 2023 season by defeating Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 7-6 (4) to solidify his spot in the last four of the ABN Amro Open in Rotterdam Friday evening.

Griekspoor, ranked No 29, improved to 4-0 against Ruusuvuori with the win, and became the first homegrown player to reach back-to-back Rotterdam semi-finals since Richard Krajicek in 1997-98.

He will play the winner of the match between Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed, and Canadian Milos Raonic next.

Griekspoor saved the only break point he faced in the contest, and won 85 percent of his first-serve points. He broke open the opening set in the 11th game, converting his fourth break point to lead 6-5, before holding at love to finish off the set.

In the second set he had to do his best work in the tiebreak – there wasn’t a single break point in the first 12 games.

“I know Emil is an amazing ball striker, he likes to play hard, hard, hard,” said Griekspoor. “I tried to mix it up with the backhand slice and a little bit of higher forehands, but it’s tough when he comes out firing, there’s not much you can do. I had to take care of my own serve, that’s what I did. I waited for my chances and took the chances, so I’m really happy with the performance.”

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Tennis Majors

The Dutchman edged out Italian Lorenzo Musetti (3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3)) and Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No 4 seed (6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)) ahead of his victory.

In the previous rounds of the Rotterdam tournament, Ruusuvuori, ranked No 55, won against Frenchman Ugo Humbert, the No 7 seed (7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3) and German Jan-Lennard Struff (6-3, 6-3).

Rotterdam ATP 500, other quarter-finals results (Rotterdam Ahoy, hard, EUR 2.134.985, most recent results first):

• Jannik Sinner vs. Milos Raonic
• Alex De Minaur (5) beat Andrey Rublev (2): 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3
• Grigor Dimitrov (6) beat Alexander Shevchenko: 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4