Griekspoor Advances to Quarterfinals at Grand Prix Hassan II

MARRAKECH, Morocco — Top seed Tallon Griekspoor faced a rigorous second-round challenge on Thursday as he aimed to transition his recent hard-court success to the clay at the ATP Grand Prix Hassan II. Griekspoor defeated former World No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-3.

The match lasted two hours and 24 minutes, featuring a strong performance from Griekspoor, particularly in the first-set tiebreak and at the start of the third set. After breaking serve in the second game of the final set, he secured his place in the quarterfinals.

“It’s never easy to get back to the clay. It’s been a while for me,” Griekspoor, 28, said following the match. “The Olympics last year was the last time, so quite a while without playing on clay. A very difficult opponent in Pablo, an amazing player. We played once before, which was a brutal five-setter. So I’m happy with the win today and happy to get a chance to play again tomorrow.”

Griekspoor’s last tournament before Marrakech was in Indian Wells, where he notably defeated World No. 2 while reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal. Currently ranked No. 37 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Griekspoor will next face Mattia Bellucci.

Bellucci, the eighth seed, advanced in smoother fashion, defeating qualifier Pavel Kotov 6-2, 7-5 after converting four of eight break points. Bellucci previously reached the semifinals at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam and aims to maintain that momentum.

In an additional match showcasing rising talent, Italian Luciano Darderi, who recently captured his first ATP Tour title at the Córdoba Open, is set to face Hugo Gaston. Both players have shown promise on clay, making for an exciting contest.

The clay courts of Marrakech are buzzing as players look to make their mark at this ATP 250 event, with all eyes on the matchups for the day. Events like the Grand Prix Hassan II continue to be crucial for players looking to improve their rankings and secure vital wins.