Tallon Griekspoor came back from one set down to beat Taylor Fritz 3-6 6-3 6-2 reaching the final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington.
Fritz earned the first break in the second game to take a 3-0 lead. The US player saved five break points to hold serve after six deuces. Griekspoor claimed his first break in the eighth game to seal the second set 6-3. The Dutch player broke twice in the fifth and seventh games to close out the match.
Griekspoor claimed his first win against a top 10 player moving to a career-high world number 25 in the ATP Rankings. The Dutch player will move to world number 21 if he wins the title. He has already won 27 matches and two titles in Pune and s’Hertogenbosch.
“The first top 10 was something I was really looking for. To beat Taylor playing at home is pretty special. It’s a pretty nice start to the American Swing and I am really looking forward to the final. My serve is going really well this week. It’s getting some pace, whether it’s during the day or during the night. I am moving great and the body is great, so there is not much to complain about”, said Griekspoor.
The Dutch player set up a final against Daniel Evans, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the second semifinal. Evans has reached his first ATP 500 final becoming the first British player to reach the final in Washington since Andy Murray in 2006.
Evans broke twice in the seventh and ninth games to win the opening set 6-3. Evans saved two break points to hold serve at deuce in the first game of the second set. Dimitrov fended off a break point in the fourth game to win his service game for 2-2. Evans earned a mini-break lead twice in the tie-break, but Dimitrov pulled back on serve both times. Evans won the final two points to seal the tie-break 7-4.
Evans had to win two matches on Friday, beating Alexander Schevchenko after their match was cancelled due to rain on Thursday and Frances Tiafoe in a late night match, while Dimitrov received a walkover.
Dimitrov fired 24 winners to just nine for Evans, but he made 30 unforced errors.
“It was so hard after yesterday putting in such a big effort. Coming back today it was really important to not roll over and have a bad performance. The last few months that has happened a little bit. I am really proud I could do that today. One more to go. Physically I was tired, although more sleepy than anything as it’s tough to sleep after such a late night, but we got to America early. We were in Bradenton a lot and my trainer helped me in good shape after a poor Wimbledon. It makes you feel good at these times to be confident in your body when you play two matches and come back today”, said Evans.
