Indian Wells star receives tough love from own | Sports News

Tallon Griekspoor received plenty of vocal support from his coaching team, including his apparent physio, during his steely win over Alexander Zverev.

Griekspoor ousted the German and No. 1 seed at Indian Wells – who recently lost in the Australian Open final – 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 to book his spot in the Round of 32. The Dutch star left it all out on the court but received the necessary encouragement from those close to him watching on.

At one set all and 3-3 in third, one of his team – who is claimed to be his physio – could be heard shouting, ‘You’re on his a–, you’re on his a–, you’re on his a–, you are on his a–. Just stay in the moment. Do the basic things. I don’t ask anything else from you just show me that you can do the basics. Let’s go.”

In the same game, his team member, now leaning over the side, could be heard shouting: “Why are you a madman? Why are you a madman? You’re in it. What’s the problem? Keep grinding. Keep pushing.”

This wasn’t the only fierce vocal encouragement he had received. Earlier in the match, with Griekspoor up 2-0 in the second set, the same team member shouted down: “You accept it and you build from it. “Big balls, big brains, big heart.”

The advice clearly resonated with the 28-year-old grinding out a win against the tournament favorite. He will now face 29th seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the next round.

But for Griekspoor, an important mental barrier was broken down. After the match he said: “It was such a mental thing. I lost to him five times last year and had absolute heartbreak at Roland Garros where I was up a double break in the fifth. I played so many battles against him and had chances but they all went his way. I am incredibly proud of myself from this performance and to get it over the line.”

On his determination, he added: “I had some ankle problems from the first match and I didn’t know how it was going to be today. I felt it was pretty warm as well, over three hours. I am proud of myself with my mental and physical performance.”

As for Zverev, the German condemned his form since his loss to Jannik Sinner in Melbourne.

“I can sit here and have excuses, but at the end of the day I’m just not playing good tennis at the moment,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. I’m not playing a level that I want to play, definitely not playing anywhere near what I played in Australia. This is the end result of, I don’t know, maybe Australian Open. But I’m just disappointed with my game.”