Tallon Griekspoor aims to extend 30-match ATP Challenger Tour win streak in Bordeaux

ROME, Italy—Is Tallon Griekspoor the Max Verstappen of the ATP Challenger Tour?

The world No. 35 and avid F1 fan arrives to the Bordeaux Challenger having won 11 titles at this level and owns a 30-match win streak. His last Challenger appearance came in 2022, when he won the Amesfoort Challenger on clay in his home country of the Netherlands.

“I always liked clay,” Griekspoor said after winning his first-round match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. “I always said it was my favorite surface. But the first two years I came on tour, I had a lot of injuries during the clay season, never got the chance to play a lot of matches on clay. So, I felt like I lost a little bit of my feeling on the clay.

“This year, I’ve been playing a lot of matches on clay, a lot of good matches, even the matches I lost were very, very good.”

Indeed, the 28-year-old kicked off the clay swing with a runner-up finish at an ATP 250 in Marrakech and the quarterfinals of a 500 in Munich.

Though his Foro Italico campaign ended in the second round to No. 13 seed Arthur Fils, Griekspoor feels himself sliding into form just in time for Roland Garros, where he reached the third round last year—pushing eventual finalist Alexander Zverev to five sets. He would later defeat Zverev at Indian Wells.

“I think, for me, the most important thing is my footwork, the whole feeling of the sliding, when to slide, when to be aggressive or when to be a bit more defensive,” said Griekspoor. “I think it’s pretty natural for us in Holland. We don’t have the best weather but we still grow up on clay as much as hard. I would say it’s 50-50 there.

“When I played Challengers and Futures, I played nine months a year on clay because I never liked to play indoors.”

These guys, especially I think Max, is one of the best at pushing his car on tough weekends or tough days. These guys are pushing themselves for two hours in brutal, brutal conditions. Tallon Griekspoor on F1

Off the court, Griekspoor finds inspiration—his Drive to Survive, if you will—watching Verstappen compete against an increasingly deep field, finding common struggles between F1 drivers and tennis players.

“I love the sport, especially this year when it’s not just Max who shows up and wins. He has a lot of competition from McLaren this year, for sure. But it makes it more fun to watch.

“These guys, especially I think Max, is one of the best at pushing his car on tough weekends or tough days. These guys are pushing themselves for two hours in brutal, brutal conditions.”

Seeded third in Bordeaux, Griekspoor could draw a brutal opening-round opponent, awaiting the winner of 2015 Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka vs. Billy Harris.