Feb 17, 2024 at 9:02 PM Update: 4 days ago
Tallon Greek Spoor once once more failed to reach the final of the ABN AMRO Open on Saturday. The Dutchman had to bow to favorite Jannik Sinner in two sets in Rotterdam: 6-2 and 6-4.
Sinner also kept Greek Spoor out of the final in Rotterdam last year. The Italian then lost the final battle to Daniil Medvedev. This year, Sinner will face Alex de Minaur in the final. Earlier in the day, the Australian was too strong for former winner Grigor Dimitrov in two sets.
For the 27-year-old Greek track, a stunt was not an option once morest Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam title in Australia at the beginning of this year. The home favorite had no chance, especially in the first set. The Haarlem native was able to last longer in the second set, but ultimately had to bow out.
Greek Spoor might have become the first Dutch finalist of the tournament in Rotterdam since Raemon Sluiter in 2003. He lost in the final at the time. The last Dutch winner of the tournament in Rotterdam is Jan Siemerink. He succeeded tournament director Richard Krajicek as winner in 1998.
The 22-year-old Sinner will get another chance on Sunday to win the ABN AMRO Open for the first time in his career. Medvedev, last year’s winner, unsubscribed from this edition. The final starts on Sunday at 3:30 PM.
Jannik Sinner showed his class in Rotterdam. Photo: Getty Images
Sinner plays champagne tennis
Greek Spoor, like his former coach Raemon Sluiter, is a classic public player. He likes to be carried by the fans, like last week during the Davis Cup in Groningen. The supporters also helped him through critical moments in Ahoy, such as the two match points for the Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the first round.
And Mozespoor floated on the waves of euphoria in Ahoy following his impressive victory in three tiebreaks over top ten player Hubert Hurkacz. “This is what I train for,” Greekpoor said, following he had defeated the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori in the quarter-finals. “I like to play in front of friends and family in a full stadium. It helps that I have been playing in Rotterdam from an early age, this court feels like home.”
Also on Saturday evening, Greek Spoor attracted a full house in Rotterdam, where Sinner was also supported by a group of Italian fans. The Italian chose to return following the toss and that turned out to be a good choice. Partly due to a double fault, Krijgsman was constantly under pressure and immediately surrendered his serve.
The ‘olé,olé Sinner’ rang out through Ahoy, following he quickly forced a double break in the first set. Only when a 4-1 deficit did Greekpoor get its first break points, but the Italian cleared them away in a superior manner.
With two velvet drop shots and a beautiful reflex at the net, Sinner demonstrated champagne tennis, with which he won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne. As if Sinner was flying at breakneck speed past the gates in the snow on skis once more, he attacked so quickly from the baseline following a volley from Greekpoor. With a love game, Sinner won the first set: 6-2.
Tallon Greekpoor serves in Rotterdam. Photo: ANP
Greek track service is faltering
It was the third meeting between Sinner and Greek Spoor, who had not yet won a set. Greekpoor says he has mainly improved his service, but his serve faltered noticeably in the first set once morest Sinner. It wasn’t until the opening game of the second set that the aces came off his racket and Greek track dominated with his forehand.
With a 2-1 lead, Greek Spoor was treated by the physiotherapist during a medical time-out. His toes were taped and Sinner’s rhythm seemed broken for a moment. From 15-40 Sinner scattered with service winners and the service also helped him out of trouble following two break points for Greek Spoor at 2-3.
Greekspor played with more flair in that phase. Relying on a better serve, the number one of the Netherlands put more aggression in his returns. He dared to step up more often and tormented Sinner with sharp forehands. But at 4-4, Sinner once once more produced excellent returns from his racket and had to force Greekpoor into the rally. After a double fault he was broken at love: 4-5.
Greekpoor helped his opponent into the saddle with that ugly game and Sinner immediately took advantage. For example, Greek Spoor stumbled once more in the semi-final battle in Ahoy and following the title for Siemerink in 1998, the ABN AMRO Open will have to wait at least a year for a new Dutch winner.
Tallon Greek Spoor leaves Ahoy. Photo: ANP