DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 27, 2025

Tallon Griekspoor

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

T. GRIEKSPOOR/D. Medvedev

2-6, 7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Tallon, how do you feel right now?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Well, exhausted. But yeah, unbelievable match. Beating Daniil is special. I mean, he's been at the top of the rankings for so long. He has such a tough game style to play against.

Yeah, very pleased with how I did it. Especially after I thought he played a very, very good first set. Stayed tough, hanged in there. Got a little bit lucky in the second set and also in the third, I guess.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When Daniil went off court in the gap, what did you tell yourself?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Well, I also needed to pee, so I went with him.

Of course, it was easier for me to come back on court than for him, I guess. Like I said, I think I was a little bit lucky end of the second set by saving these match points. I played some great points. But could have gone his way easy there.

Yeah, I just told myself to keep doing whatever I was doing at that point, keep playing aggressive, keep looking for playing forward towards the net.

He's going to make so many balls. You know he's going to make passing shots and whatever. But I feel like you just have to keep on doing it. Yeah, very happy with how I did it. Served really well towards the end of the third set. Yeah, crazy last game in the end.

Q. You didn't get lucky on the match points because you were going to the net, incredible volleys. You never wavered away from doing that. In your head, is this pure instinct or do you know you're going to serve and volley?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: No, I knew coming into this match that that was a thing that I had to do. Daniil is standing so far on return, I feel like you have to put some pressure on him. Like if I'm going to stay back, I'm going to make it so easy for him to keep running down these balls. He's probably one of the best in doing.

I just told myself keep playing aggressive, keep going for it. Well, at least if you lose the match, you went for it.

I also think, like, in the last game I missed a couple of second serve forehand returns. At least I went for it. I think on the second match point I went for it with my forehand, but I missed it.

I'd rather lose a match by telling myself afterwards that I went for it instead of just keep on pushing. Just very happy with how I did it in the end.

Q. Were you cramping at some stages of the third set?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: No, no, I was not cramping. I have to say I felt some fatigue towards the end. Especially first day, I played pretty long match. Yesterday wasn't easy. Today again close to 2:45. I don't know how long. Playing those guys, there's no easy matches here.

Daniil, he really takes your legs by playing so many long points, just making all these balls, running down so many balls.

No, there was no cramp. But I have to say I could use some recovery.

Q. Were you aware of all that was going on on the other side of the net? He's always pretty animated. Were you aware what was happening?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Yeah, I was aware. I have to say I love Daniil, how he is on court. He is himself. Okay, sometimes he gets a warning or sometimes maybe he goes a little bit too far, but he is who he is. That's what I really like.

So yeah, of course, after you win that second set, after saving a couple of match points, it's kind of a bonus to be in that third set. Well, he probably felt like he should have been done in two.

So I was aware. Just tried to stay focusing at myself. Well, he's an unbelievable player. Even if he goes a little bit crazy, he's still going to play unbelievable tennis because he's way too good to not be good at tennis.

No, I just tried to focus on myself and do my own thing.

Q. You saved three match points in the first round. Now four more. Is there a freedom once you get through that? Are you thinking I was in the same situation in the first round?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Yeah, when I won this second set, I was actually thinking how am I even still in this tournament? I probably should have been on the plane to Indian Wells already (smiling).

But well, I guess sometimes you got to be a little bit lucky. Like you say, first round I saved three match points. One of the points I felt like I really should have really lost it. Yesterday, had a really good win. All of a sudden you're here tomorrow in the semis.

Yeah, I think there's a little bit of freedom after that first round. I told myself, listen, if you're going to lose, at least you're going to lose on a good way, you're going to go for it. I feel like that's what I did yesterday and today. It's been paying off so far, hopefully it will do again tomorrow.

Q. What does a win like this mean for you?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Well, especially with the draws I had the last years, I should have faced him a couple of more times.

No, it's crazy that I never played him. We practice quite a lot together. Of course, you watch him play. You know what's coming a little bit. But I think he's one of the most difficult guys to play because he has such a different game style than anyone else.

No, this win I think is my best win by ranking. I mean, he's been No. 1 in the world. He's been at the top of the rankings for so long. Just very pleased with this win. Yeah, it means a lot.

Q. Your serve and volley was on point. What went through your mind when you were approaching the match point?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Like I said, he's standing very far on return. I feel like you got to take some time away at his return. If I'm going to stay back, he's going to make all the returns, well, deep and I'm not going to be able to do much with that ball and he's going to take over.

I also felt like in the first one and a half set I was actually volleying very, very bad. I felt I was missing so many volleys on top of the net. Even in the end of the second where he was going to match points, I was missing a couple of easy volleys. But then on match point down, I hit a couple of very, very good volleys luckily.

I knew. If you want to beat Daniil, I feel like you have to be very aggressive. That's what I tried to do all match. That's what I told myself to do all match. I feel like that paid off in the end.

Q. Berrettini and Tsitsipas, what is your mindset?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: I mean, they are both unbelievable players. I lost to Berrettini last week 6-4 in the third. I beat him the week before 7-6 in the third. I lost to Tsitsipas 7-5 in the third after two tiebreaks.

I played them back to back in the last few weeks. Had unbelievable battles with both of them. Tsitsipas speaks for himself, has been at the top of the game for so long already. Matteo is coming back from injury, playing so, so well. Such a tough player to play against.

Like I said, with both of them I had unbelievable battles last week. I don't expect any different tomorrow. I hope they going to make it a long one so it going to be a little bit even. I have a little bit of more recovery time.

But let them go for a while and I will do recovery and watch from bed.

Q. Can you talk us through the crowd support.

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Yeah, I felt like when I was watching this afternoon, I was actually a little bit worried because I was not too much of a crowd. I guess they all showed up tonight.

I felt like he's loved here. They like him. Of course, I feel like they like him everywhere. I like him as well because of who he is. He is himself on court. I felt like the support was amazing. I felt it even went my way in the end of the third.

Yeah, means the world to me playing here. ATP 500, Dubai. Such a beautiful stadium to play in. Yeah, really enjoyed this match.

Now I'm going to hopefully recover as good as possible for tomorrow and hopefully it's going to be the same atmosphere tomorrow.