Tallon Griekspoor wins Brussels ATP 250 with comeback final victory

Tallon Griekspoor won the Brussels ATP 250 final against Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday evening. The Dutchman secured his fourth career title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in Brussels, Belgium. This triumph marks his first indoor championship and propels him back into the ATP's top 50 rankings.

Griekspoor's path required resilience. He lost the first set in the final. Struff broke serve in the fifth game to take that opener 6-4. The German hit 18 winners and 10 unforced errors, serving eight aces. Griekspoor responded forcefully. He produced 13 aces across the final two sets and converted two of his four break point chances. The match concluded after two hours of play.

Comeback from behind

Griekspoor's victory continued a remarkable pattern for the week. He won his third consecutive match after losing the first set. His quarterfinal win over No. 2 seed Jiri Lehecka followed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 scoreline. The semifinal was even tighter. Griekspoor was a set down and then trailed 3-5 in the third set against No. 3 seed Francisco Cerundolo. He fought back to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Earlier rounds saw him defeat Max Schoenhaus and Mariano Navone in straight sets.

Ranking impact and head-to-head

The Brussels result caused a significant shift in the rankings. Both finalists returned to the elite top 50. Griekspoor gained ten places to reach world No. 50. Struff climbed eleven spots to No. 47. The Dutchman also extended his perfect record against the German. He now leads their head-to-head series 4-0.

Career milestone and context

This win holds special historical significance. It is Griekspoor's first title since winning on grass in Mallorca in June 2023. More notably, it is his first indoor title as a Dutchman since Martin Verkerk won in Milan in 2003. The 30-year-old, who was ranked No. 60 entering the event, now joins an exclusive club. He becomes only the sixth Dutchman in the Open Era to win at least four tour-level titles.

The elite group includes Tom Okker, Richard Krajicek, Sjeng Schalken, Jacco Eltingh, and Jan Siemerink. "I'm very happy to win here, it's a great week," Griekspoor said. For Struff, the result was a missed opportunity. The 36-year-old, ranked No. 58, was playing his first final on hard courts and his first championship match since winning his only title in Munich earlier in 2024. He was attempting to become the second-oldest champion of the season. Griekspoor's momentum now carries him forward, his ranking restored as he heads to the next ATP event.