Tallon Griekspoor defeated Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Friday evening and will face the winner of the match between the top seed, Italian Jannik Sinner, and Canadian Milos Raonic, in the following round.
Tallon Griekspoor, a Dutchman, is enjoying a purple patch again on home soil. The 27-year-old advanced to 14-1 overall on Dutch soil since the start of the 2023 season after overcoming Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Friday evening, securing his berth in the final four of the ABN Amro Open in Rotterdam.
Griekspoor, ranked No. 29, advanced to 4-0 over Ruusuvuori with the victory, becoming the first indigenous player to reach two Rotterdam semi-finals since Richard Krajicek in 1997-98.
He will face the winner of the match between Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed, and Canadian Milos Raonic next.
Griekspoor saved the lone break point he faced in the match and won 85 percent of his first serve points. He broke open the first set in the 11th game, converting his fourth break point to lead 6-5, before holding at love to seal the victory.
In the second set, he had to perform his best job in the tiebreak because there were no break points in the first 12 games.
“I know Emil is an amazing ball striker, he likes to play hard, hard, hard,” Griekspoor added. “I tried to mix it up with the backhand slice and a few higher forehands, but it’s difficult when he comes out firing; there’s not much you can do.” I needed to take care of my own serve, so I did. I waited for my chances and took them, so I’m very pleased with my performance.
Prior to his victory, the Dutchman defeated Italian Lorenzo Musetti (3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3)) and Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the fourth seed (6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)).
Ruusuvuori, rated No. 55, defeated Frenchman Ugo Humbert, the No. 7 seed (7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3), and German Jan-Lennard Struff (6-3, 6-3).
Rotterdam ATP 500, other quarter-finals results (Rotterdam Ahoy, hard, EUR 2.134.985, latest results first):
Jannik Sinner against Milos Raonic
Alex De Minaur (5) defeated Andrey Rublev (2), 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3.
Grigor Dimitrov (6) defeated Alexander Shevchenko, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4.
