TENERIFE, November 6, 2021
Tallon Griekspoor remains unstoppable. Following three consecutive title wins, the red-hot Dutchman advanced to another championship match on the ATP Challenger Tour. Griekspoor battled past former Top 10 star and No. 3 seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-3 in Saturday’s semi-finals of the Tenerife Challenger.
In front of about 350 spectators on Centre Court at the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora, the top seed of the €44,820 hard-court event, sent down eight aces and won 74 per cent of his first-service points. Griekspoor, full of confidence, showed his class when he managed to regain his focus and energy after missing a match point in the tie-break of the second set. The World No. 88 sealed victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
Tallon Griekspoor 🇳🇱 remains unstoppable!
The top seed of the Tenerife Challenger advances to his 4th consecutive ATP Challenger final beating Fernando Verdasco 🇪🇸 7-6 6-7 6-3. #ATPChallengerTour #Tenerife 🌴@meftennisevents @visit_tenerife @Griekii pic.twitter.com/haaMnf6yeu
— TennisTourTalk (@TennisTourTalk) November 6, 2021
“I am feeling good, reaching another final is obviously nice,” Griekspoor said during his post-match on-court interview. “I am tired now. It was a tough and long match, a big fight.”
Verdasco praised his 25-year-old opponent and stated that he was serving like Pete Sampras. “I wish I would serve like him,” Griekspoor responded.
“I served well in the important moments. I did well. I went for my shots. It wasn’t always too good but it in the end it worked out,” he said and added that this win over the former World No. 7 was probably one of his prestigious wins in his career. “Now 19 wins in a row and a good comeback. I am happy and hope that I can win one more tomorrow,” Griekspoor said.
Lopez beats Kuznetsov
The Haarlem native is seeking his record-breaking seventh ATP Challenger title of the season against another Spanish veteran, facing World No. 104 Feliciano Lopez. The 40-year-old from Toledo edged past Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia 6-1, 7-6(3) in one hour and 21 minutes.
👏 FE-LI-CIA-NOOOO 👏
Juego. Set. Partito. Final 🇪🇸 @ATPChallenger | @VisitTenerifeES | #FelicianoLopez | #TenerifeChallenger pic.twitter.com/6doI0LsMTk
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) November 6, 2021
“I am pleased to be in the final, playing as many matches as possible this week,” said Lopez. The second seed is seeking his third ATP Challenger career title, his first since Bogota 2011, and in addition to his seven ATP Tour crowns. Griekspoor, who could lift his ninth Challenger trophy, and Lopez will meet for the first time.
Borges/Cabral triumph in doubles
Earlier in the day, Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral captured their third team title on the ATP Challenger Tour. The No. 3 seeds from Portugal defeated second-seeded Indians Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Purav Raja 6-3, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and five minutes.
Borges and Cabral lifted the trophies on home soil in Oeiras and Braga earlier in the season. The pair split €2,670 in prize money and earned 80 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
Portugal 🇵🇹 conquista #Tenerife.#FranciscoCabral y #NunoBorges son los ganadores del torneo de dobles 🏆@VisitTenerifeES | @ATPChallenger | #TenerifeChallenger | #Tennis pic.twitter.com/fmxKwLQHWX
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) November 6, 2021
