Griekspoor ousts Zverev in Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California — Tallon Griekspoor stunned top-seeded Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), in the second round at Indian Wells on Friday (Saturday in Manila), avenging a devastating loss to the German at Roland Garros last year.

Zverev, the world No. 2 who is heading the field of the prestigious ATP Masters event with No. 1 Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, is the first Indian Wells men's top seed to lose his opening match since Andy Murray in 2017.

The defeat in a tension-packed Stadium Court clash continued a lackluster run for Zverev since he fell to Sinner in the Australi-an Open final.

Since then the German had made early exits at Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco.

"It was such a mental thing," Griekspoor said, calling his loss to Zverev at Roland Garros last year — where he was up a double break in the fifth set — "absolute heartbreak."

"I played so many battles against him and had chances, but they all went his way," said Griekspoor, who claimed his first victo-ry over a top-five player in his 19th attempt.

"I am incredibly proud of myself from this performance and to get it over the line."

Griekspoor next faces France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the 29th seed who was leading 6-4 when Hungarian Fabien Ma-rozsan retired from their second-round match.

Meanwhile, Russian Daniil Medvedev, runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz the past two years, headlines the night session taking on China's Bu Yunchaokete.