Calm and confident up-and-comer Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands proved more than a match for Croatian Borna Ćorić at the inaugural MGM Macau Tennis Masters on Sunday, taking home top prize after an entertaining final.
The Dutchman, ranked no. 23 in the ATP, refused to be intimidated by the former world no. 12, and pulled off an authoritative 6-3, 6-4 victory in just over an hour before a small but captivated crowd at Macao’s East Asian Games Dome.
The victory continues Tallon Griekspoor’s run of good form this year. He won his first ATP title at the Tata Open Maharashtra, held in the Indian city of Pune in January, and in June became the second consecutive home champion at the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.
His victory over Ćorić in Macao will boost his confidence for the United Cup in January, when Croatia faces the Netherlands in Group F.
[See more: Here’s where to learn tennis in Macao]
Sunday’s final followed a third-place playoff between world no.10 Taylor Fritz of the US and local favourite, China’s Zhang Zhizhen – currently ranked no. 58. Fritz was clearly not on form and Zhang clinched a 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory, firing an impressive 10 aces during the match.
Earlier in the afternoon, an evenly matched women’s singles showdown took place between WTA no. 18 Daria Kasatkina of Russia and China’s Wang Xinyu, ranked no. 22. Kasatkina won 6-4, 6-4.
The excitement continues for Macao’s tennis fans this week, with the 2023 Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) Tour Professional Finals and the National Tennis Championships. Top players in the national rankings will compete in four categories – men’s and women’s singles and doubles – from today until 10 December.
