Tallon Griekspoor Shocks Alexander Zverev at Canadian Open

In a thrilling upset at the Canadian Open, Tallon Griekspoor defeated top seed Alexander Zverev, marking a pivotal moment in his season. After struggling in recent matches, Griekspoor showcased his talent and resilience, securing a spot in the third round. This victory not only highlights his potential but also opens up the tournament for emerging players as several top seeds have already been eliminated. Read on to discover more about this exciting match and what it means for Griekspoor's future in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 6, 2026, 14:42 IST

Griekspoor's Stunning Victory

File image of Tallon Griekspoor(Photo: @atptour/X)

Montreal, Aug 6: In a remarkable turn of events at the Canadian Open, Tallon Griekspoor achieved a significant milestone by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev with a score of 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4, marking his third victory against a Top-5 player this season.

Entering the tournament, Griekspoor had only managed to win one of his last eight matches on the tour. However, the former World No. 21, now ranked No. 69, showcased his skills at this ATP Masters 1000 event, advancing to the third round.

With this win, Griekspoor becomes the first male player to eliminate the No. 1 seed in the opening round of the Canadian Open since Nick Kyrgios achieved the feat against Daniil Medvedev in 2022. Despite having a 2-9 record against Zverev, Griekspoor has consistently challenged him in their recent encounters.

The two players had previously split intense matches in 2025, and Griekspoor notably squandered a double break lead in the fifth set during their 2024 French Open clash. His powerful serve proved to be a significant advantage in this match.

Ranked No. 69, down from his peak of No. 21 in 2023, Griekspoor demonstrated resilience throughout the match. He had a set point in the first set tiebreak but faltered, missing a backhand after a passive rally.

Griekspoor found his rhythm and broke Zverev's serve for a 3-2 lead in the third set with a stunning inside-out forehand that concluded a lengthy rally. Although Zverev managed to hold serve at 2-4, 0-30, he faced a break point in the following game and lost his serve after Griekspoor executed a powerful backhand down the line. Nevertheless, Griekspoor broke back and clinched the match with a forehand down the line.

Griekspoor's forehand was particularly effective, yielding 20 winners, and he successfully converted 17 of 18 net approaches. He is set to face either Matteo Arnaldi or Fabian Marozsan in the next round.

In a surprising turn of events, six of the Top-10 seeds have already exited the tournament in Montreal. Alongside Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev also faced early defeats, while Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew due to a back injury.

This shake-up in the draw has created new opportunities for emerging stars like Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca.