Griekspoor fights back against Struff to move Netherlands into first ever Davis Cup final
Sunday will be the Netherlands first ever Davis Cup final
Zuma/Panoramic
The Netherlands are through to their first ever Davis Cup final! Tallon Griekspoor fought back to beat Jan-Lennard Struff (4) 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, and clinch an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie v Germany.
The first set was heavily serve-dominant, with neither facing a break point. However, in the inevitable tiebreak that followed, it was the German who stepped up a gear, gaining two minibreaks and clinching the opening set 7-4 in the tiebreak. In terms of the overall stats, it was Griekspoor who had a higher winning percentage on both his first and second serve, as well double the amount of winners, and one fewer unforced error.
It could then reasonably be expected that the Dutchman would feel that he lost a set which he may have deserved, leading to a second set dip. Griekspoor did not succumb to such thinking, maintaining the aggressive attitude on serve, with the match seeing its first break point at 4-3 in the second set. If Struff had taken it, Germany would have been just one game away from levelling the tie. But take it, they did not. Netherlands’ finest saved two break points before holding, and breaking the hard-hitting German’s serve at 5-5, and finished by serving it out on his second set point for 7-5. Game on.
The third set was far different from the prior two, with the ascendent Griekspoor breaking in the first game, and, ultimately, this would prove fatal for Germany’s chances. The Dutchman would hold from there, even having a chance for a double break at 3-1, winning the set on a thunderous ace down the T to claim a 6-4 in the third victory.
The Netherlands had only ever previously made the semi-finals once before this year, all the way back in 2001. Against either Italy or Australia, one thing is for sure – they will be the underdogs in Sunday’s finale.
Griekspoor: we believed in ourselves, that we always felt like this was possible
Griekspoor said after the match:
“It’s unbelievable, we have been talking about this for 2-3 years, and we came here all the time with tough draw, losing to the finalists; the champions. This year we had Spain, but we believed in ourselves that we always felt like this was possible. To do it now, I’m so happy for the whole team, for the whole of tennis Holland. Unbelievable match.”
The Dutchman was very satifised with his level, even in the first set – which he lost:
“Well I just tried to focus on myself, he was playing some unbelievable tennis, I didn’t do much wrong in the first set, I served unbelievably well. But, I know how well he can play, he made his first mistake at 5-5 in the second where he helped me a little bit. Super proud of myself and the effort, and I’m super happy to get the win in the end.”
