Tallon Griekspoor and Alexander Zverev have met 12 times, with the Dutchman winning three. The next time they meet, there may be a little more bad blood between them.
Griekspoor made some critical remarks about Zverev in interviews released ahead of the Netherlands’ Davis Cup World Group tie with Colombia this weekend.
According to reporting from De Telegraaf, Griekspoor echoed the sentiments of Ben Shelton with regard to Zverev’s incessant and now well-documented ball bouncing before serves.
Griekspoor, who won his lone singles match this weekend, defeating Nicolas Mejia 6-2, 6-4 as the Netherlands defeated Colombia 4-0, said he wasn’t all that interested in watching Sunday’s US Open final between Shelton and Zverev.
He had his own reasons for that.
“There were other sports going on, and I simply have a hard time watching Zverev,” he said. “Especially in this tournament, where he bounced the ball 400 times before every serve.”
Elaborating on Zverev’s serving routine, which was also talked about at length by Shelton after Sunday’s final in Flushing Meadows, Griekspoor added:
“It was really extreme, but it obviously helped him. Maybe I should do the same.”
Griekspoor was also dismissive of the possibility that Zverev could finish the year at No. 1.
“There isn’t a single hair on my head that thinks that Zverev is finishing the year as world No. 1,” he said.
In additional comments released Wednesday on the Cor Potcast, Griekspoor went further, questioning Zverev’s status relative to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now that the German has emerged from the Grand Slam season as the only player with multiple major titles.
Griekspoor also went into greater detail about Zverev’s serving routine, saying he believed the German used the extended ball bouncing to disrupt his opponents.
“I think 100 percent that he does it to distract us,” Griekspoor said.
After the comments went viral, Griekspoor took to X to try to downplay them.
“Normally, I don’t react on here, but this is getting out of control,” he explained. “Just said it was tough to watch because of the never ending bouncing.
“Nothing but praise for Sacha for what he’s done throughout this year!”
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