Alexander Zverev Calls Canadian Open Defeat to Tallon Griekspoor ‘Worst Match of the Season’

Alexander Zverev‘s Canadian Open campaign ended quickly as he succumbed to a three-set defeat at the hands of Tallon Griekspoor in the opening round. It was the first time this season that Sascha suffered an opening-round exit.

Zverev arrived in Montreal after producing his best Wimbledon performance as he reached the final for the first time and took the first set off Jannik Sinner, but the defending champion forced a comeback in the second set and eventually won the match in four sets.

The five-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the sixth Masters 1000 of the season, choosing to prioritize his health instead of chasing the Golden Masters. The thought of skipping the Montreal event also came to Zverev’s mind, but he eventually decided to play.

I didn’t expect to play well this week. I took a little break. I’m back to training, but the competition is tough. I think this was probably the worst match of the season. I haven’t had many bad matches, but this one definitely fits the bill.

Alexander Zverev said at the press conference after his exit

Zverev is a former champion in Canada, winning it in 2017 by defeating Roger Federer. The German has not yet won a Masters 1000 title since the 2024 Paris Masters.

I have seven Masters 1000 titles; I’m fine. Given the conditions and the balls, there will be some strange results in terms of rankings and players, results that perhaps you wouldn’t expect at other tournaments. It’s the first hard court event for us in a couple of months. I think everyone is still trying to find their form.

Alexander Zverev added

Next is the Cincinnati Masters, which Zverev won in 2021 by beating Andrey Rublev. His run ended in the semifinals last year with a straight-set defeat to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Tallon Griekspoor on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz withdrawal from the Canadian Open

Tallon Griekspoor registered the biggest win of his career when he beat Alexander Zverev. The Dutchman, who has now improved his head-to-head record over Zverev to 3-9, said Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal has opened the door for other players.

Lately, without Jannik and Carlos on the court, it seems like the tournament is truly open to everyone. I think Zverev has capitalized on that momentum very well, both at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Jannik and Carlos are a cut above the rest. And you can see it now that Carlos isn’t here, Jannik isn’t here, and he lost early at Roland Garros: this opens the door for other players.

Tallon Griekspoor said at the press conference

Prior to his win over the reigning French Open champion, Griekspoor knocked out Lorenzo Sonego. Griekspoor will next be facing Matteo Arnaldi.

Alcaraz withdrew because of a wrist injury that he suffered while playing in Barcelona. He went on to skip both the French Open and Wimbledon and recently withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters as well. Sinner, because he won the first five Masters 1000s of the season, had the golden opportunity to bid for the Golden Masters. He last played in Canada in 2024.

Reports have emerged that Sinner is dealing with a knee issue, raising doubts about his participation in Cincinnati. Last year in the tournament, Sinner was forced to hand the walkover to Alcaraz due to an illness. After these events, the focus will shift toward the US Open. Alcaraz is the reigning champion (defeated Sinner last year). Sinner has claimed the most titles this season, and all of them came in big events (five Masters 1000s and one Grand Slam title).

Also read: Andy Roddick Makes ‘It Just Stinks’ Comment About Emma Raducanu’s US Open Withdrawal