Top seed Medvedev exits Dubai Tennis Championships after defeat to Griekspoor

DUBAI: In a stunning upset at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday, Tallon Griekspoor toppled top-seeded Daniil Medvedev to secure the most significant victory of his career and leave the defeated world No. 6 smashing his racquet in frustration.

Showing remarkable resilience, Griekspoor rallied from a set down to claim a dramatic 2-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5 win. The Dutchman saved four match points in the second set before closing out the match at the fourth opportunity to earn a place in the ATP 500 semifinals, where he will face No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Griekspoor’s path to the final four has been anything but easy. In the opening round, he survived three match points against qualifier Roman Safiullin, and in the second he took down defending champion Ugo Humbert of France.

Now, with Friday representing his eighth ATP Tour semifinal, the 28-year-old Griekspoor continues to prove his mettle against the sport’s elite. “I’m absolutely thrilled with this win,” he said.

“I had to fight off a few match points in the second set … Daniil is an incredible player and competitor. He’s been at the top of the game for years, so this is a huge victory for me.”

In a one-sided first set, Medvedev was quick to anticipate Griekspoor’s aggressive forays to the net, countering with precision and wrapping up the opening inside just 27 minutes. The Russian played near-flawless tennis, committing just one unforced error in open play and winning every point behind his first serve.

Yet Griekspoor refused to be discouraged. After surrendering an early break, the world No. 47 found his rhythm in the second set, sticking to his serve-and-volley strategy. Facing two match points at both 4-5 and 5-6 on his own serve, he forced a