Griekspoor stuns Zverev 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 at Canadian Open Montreal
Synopsis
Ranked No. 69 and having won just one of his last eight matches, Tallon Griekspoor walked onto court against the world's top seed in Montreal — and walked off with the biggest win of his season. With six top-10 seeds already gone, the Canadian Open draw is wide open, and Griekspoor is suddenly one of the most dangerous floaters left in it.
Key Takeaways
Tallon Griekspoor defeated top seed Alexander Zverev 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4 at the Canadian Open on 6 August in Montreal .
It is Griekspoor's third career Top-5 victory, and the first time a No.
1 seed has been beaten in the Canadian Open opener since Nick Kyrgios defeated Medvedev in 2022 .
Griekspoor, ranked No.
69 , had won just one of his previous eight tour-level matches before this result.
His forehand generated 20 winners ; he converted 17 of 18 net approaches.
Six of the top-10 seeds have exited Montreal, including Medvedev , Fritz , Rublev , and Cobolli .
Griekspoor next faces Matteo Arnaldi or Fabian Marozsan in the third round.
Tallon Griekspoor delivered the standout result of his 2025 season at the Canadian Open on Wednesday, 6 August, defeating top seed Alexander Zverev 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4 in Montreal to claim his third career Top-5 victory and advance to the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
A Comeback Story in the Making
The result was far from expected. Griekspoor, currently ranked No. 69 on the ATP Rankings — down from his career-high of No. 21 in 2023 — had won just one of his previous eight tour-level matches heading into Montreal. Yet on the hard courts of Canada, the Dutch player rediscovered the aggressive, serve-led tennis that once made him a genuine threat on the circuit.
Notably, Griekspoor becomes the first men's player to defeat the No. 1 seed in the Canadian Open opener since Nick Kyrgios beat Daniil Medvedev in 2022 — a rare feat that underscores the magnitude of Wednesday's win.
How the Match Unfolded
The opening set was tightly contested. Griekspoor had a set point before the tiebreak but went passive in the rally and missed a backhand, handing Zverev the opener 7-3 in the breaker. Rather than fold, the Dutchman regrouped decisively.
He broke for 3-2 in the third set with a sharp inside-out forehand to end a protracted rally — a shot that encapsulated his resurgent confidence. Zverev briefly threatened at 2-4, 0-30, finding a hold to keep his chances alive, but Griekspoor broke again and closed out the match with a forehand down the line.
The numbers told the story of Griekspoor's dominance: his forehand produced 20 winners, and he was a remarkable 17-for-18 at the net. Despite holding a 2-9 head-to-head record against Zverev entering the match, he has consistently pushed the German hard — the pair split marathon contests in 2025, and Griekspoor famously let slip a double-break lead in the fifth set at the 2024 French Open.
Seeds Tumbling in Montreal
Griekspoor's win is part of a broader seeding collapse at this year's Canadian Open. Six of the top-10 seeds have already exited, with Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev all losing their opening matches. Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to withdraw due to a back injury, further opening the draw.
The chaos at the top has created a significant opportunity for younger players, with #NextGenATP stars Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca among those who could capitalise on the favourable draw.
What's Next for Griekspoor
Griekspoor will face either Matteo Arnaldi or Fabian Marozsan in the third round. With momentum building and a wide-open draw, the Dutchman will fancy his chances of a deep run in Montreal.
Point of View
And his serve remains a genuine weapon on fast hard courts. The broader story in Montreal, though, is structural: six top-10 seeds out in the opening round points to a field where depth has genuinely caught up with the elite. For the tour, that is good news. For broadcasters and sponsors banking on marquee names in the later rounds, it is a problem. The real question now is whether a NextGen player can convert this opening into a title run, or whether a resurgent veteran like Griekspoor steals the narrative entirely.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Tallon Griekspoor beat at the Canadian Open 2025?
Griekspoor defeated top seed Alexander Zverev 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4 in the second round of the Canadian Open in Montreal on 6 August 2025. It was his third career Top-5 victory.
What is Tallon Griekspoor's current ATP ranking?
Griekspoor is currently ranked No. 69 on the ATP Rankings, down from his career-high of No. 21 achieved in 2023.
When was the last time the No. 1 seed lost in the Canadian Open opener?
The last time a No. 1 seed lost in the Canadian Open opener before Griekspoor's win was in 2022, when Nick Kyrgios defeated Daniil Medvedev.
How many top seeds have been eliminated at the 2025 Canadian Open?
Six of the top-10 seeds have already exited the tournament. Zverev, Medvedev, Cobolli, Fritz, and Rublev all lost their opening matches, while Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew due to a back injury.
Who does Griekspoor play next at the Canadian Open?
Griekspoor will face either Matteo Arnaldi or Fabian Marozsan in the third round of the Canadian Open in Montreal.
