BRATISLAVA/STARNBERG, November 14, 2021
Tallon Griekspoor has closed his season with a record-winning eighth ATP Challenger title. The World No. 72 from the Netherlands defeated Hungarian qualifier and first-time finalist Zsombor Piros 6-3, 6-2 in Sunday’s championship match of the €66,640 Peugeot Slovak Open.
Second-seeded Griekspoor arrived at the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava after lifting the trophy at the Tenerife Challenger last weekend. Following six triumphs on clay this season, the 25-year-old from Haarlem captured his first Challenger title in sunny and warm conditions on the Canary Islands on outdoor hard. Now, he has adapted his game well again to different conditions, winning indoors.
Griekspoor advanced to the final with victories over local wild card entry Lukas Pokorny, Ukrainian qualifier Danylo Kalenichenko, Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka and Alex Molcan from Slovakia.
Griekspoor was the dominant player in the title match, struck eight aces and won 80 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 11 minutes.
HISTORY FOR @Griekii 💪
The 25-year-old defeats Piros 6-3, 6-2 in Bratislava and becomes the first player to win five straight #ATPChallenger titles! pic.twitter.com/AzXbOJKkP5
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 14, 2021
“I had a great week in Bratislava again. I won a clay-court Challenger here in summer, now I have won another title. Thank you to the audience for coming to my match. I hope to come back here and be successful again. I would like to congratulate Zsombor for reaching his first Challenger final,” Griekspoor said during the on-court ceremony.
The Dutch extended his winning streak to 25 matches and will crack the Top 70 for the first time in his career. Griekspoor pocketed €9,200 in prize money as well as 90 ATP Ranking points.
