Alexander Zverev is still looking for his rhythm after the final defeat at the Australian Open. At the start of the ATP Masters in Indian Wells, the top seeded German set a sobering defeat against Tallon Griekspoor.
Zverev, set number one in the absence of the blocked Jannik Sinner, Hamburger lost to the Dutchman Griekspoor in the second round of the Prestige-Eichenicht ATP master in Indian Wells with 6: 4, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 7 (4: 7) and had to cope with the next bitter disappointment. In the first round, the 27-year-old had a freewheel.
The Australian Open finalist, who recently did not get beyond the quarter-finals in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro and failed in Acapulco in the round of 16, thought after an early break and winning the first set on the winning road. With a 6: 5 lead in the second set, Zverev served the match profit – but then left all the chances of deciding the match.
In contrast, Griekspoor found it better and better into play. Zverev, current number two in the world, always struggled with his timing. After 3:07 hours, the outsider converted his sixth match ball after numerous missed opportunities.
Indian Wells continued not a good patch for Zverev
Zverev had actually set itself the goal of jumping to the top of the world rankings for spring. In the absence of Sinner, who is still closed until May 4th because of his positive doping test from 2024, the Tokyo Olympic champion would have to catch up with almost 2400 points. The tournament in Indian Wells was to start, in which Zverev had little reason to cheer for his previous appearances.
After the sobering opening against Griekspoor, Zverev’s weak balance continues in the hard court tournament in Indian Wells, endowed with around $ 13 million. He all celebrated his remarkable 23 titles on the tour in other places, in Indian Wells it was only enough for the quarter -finals (2021, 2024).
In Miami, the second part of the Sunshine Doubles is waiting in Miami, and the Masters in Monte Carlo and Madrid and the 500 tournament in Munich are also waiting for Zverev’s plan before the Italian dominator returns to the tour.
Early for Struff in Indian Wells
No more German player is represented at the Masters in the California desert. The Warsteiner Jan-Lennard Struff was inferior to the shaped Frenchman Gael Monfils 4: 6, 4: 6 in the first round.