“It would be great especially to finish the year No.2 in the world,” Alexander Zverev has already set his goals for the rest of the season. His form this year has truly been exceptional so far. However, despite making several deep runs in tournaments, Zverev has managed to win only one title this season. Will he land his second in Shanghai? Zverev started his campaign on a winning note at the Shanghai Masters, defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in the R64. Next up for him was the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. Who will win the R32 match?

Alexander Zverev vs Tallon Griekspoor: Preview

What if we say Alexander Zverev has been the most impressive player this season? The 27-year-old German won the Italian Open title this year. Apart from that, he has also made quite a few deep runs in his previous tournaments. For example, he started the season on a positive note by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. Zverev even made it to the finals at the French Open and Geneva. However, in the US Open, he could only reach the quarterfinals this year. Looking at his current form, he is surely one of the favorites in this tournament. Alexander Zverev defeated Bellucci by 6-4, 6-2 in the first match. What will the scoreline be in the next?

Before jumping into the prediction section, let’s take a look at his opponent’s performance in the 2024 season. Tallon Griekspoor’s best run this season came at his favorite tournament, where he reached the semifinals at the ATP Rotterdam. Apart from that, Griekspoor also managed to make it to the quarterfinals at the Geneva Open. The 28-year-old Dutchman has already secured two wins in this tournament. The first one came against Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta in the R128, and the next one was against Australia’s Jordan Thompson, whom he defeated by 6-3, 6-2. Now, it will be interesting to see if he can achieve that mammoth task in the next match.

Zverev vs Griekspoor: Head-to-Head

Alexander Zverev has faced Tallon Griekspoor five times in his career. Currently, the German leads the head-to-head scoreline by a 4-1 margin. They’ve already faced each other twice this season. Who will seal the deal in the third?

• 2021 Wimbledon R128: Zverev 6-3,6-4,6-1.
• 2023 Rotterdam R16: Griekspoor 4-6,6-3,6-4.
• 2023 Canadian Open R64: Zverev 6-4,7-6(3).
• 2024 Indian Wells Masters R32: Zverev 7-6(7),6-3.
• 2024 French Open R32: Zverev 3-6,6-4,6-2,4-6,7-6(3).

Prediction: Zverev to win in straight sets

Alexander Zverev reached the final of this tournament in 2019, while Tallon Griekspoor’s best record has been reaching the second round in the 2023 season. If we look at their form this season, Zverev (3) has a win-loss record of 55-18, whereas Griekspoor (40) has a win-loss record of just 27-24. So, considering all these factors, Zverev looks much stronger on paper compared to the Dutchman. However, Griekspoor is more than capable of posing a formidable challenge against the German.

If we take a look at their playing styles, Zverev is more of an aggressive baseliner. He loves to stand far behind the baseline and aims to hit powerful groundstrokes either for winners or to wear down his opponents. Alexander Zverev can generate a lot of power with his backhand and forehand. His backhand is regarded as one of the best on the men’s Tour. Although his height (6 ft 6 inches) can sometimes slow him down on the court, it also adds to his reach and gives him the ability to get more balls back in play. Talking about his fierce serves, Zverev has hit 659 aces this season and committed just 158 double faults!

Zverev’s biggest weaknesses have been his volley and overhead technique. Griekspoor should look to put the German on the back foot right from the start to stand a chance in this match. Regarding Tallon Griekspoor’s playing style, the Dutchman possesses a formidable serve with a strong baseline game. He’s known for his powerful right-handed play, which includes a strong two-handed backhand. His game combines aggressive baseline play with strategic shot placement, but is it enough to outclass someone like Alexander Zverev? Perhaps not!