Dutch duo Van de Zandschulp and Griekspoor reach Montreal Masters round of 16 with comeback wins

Van de Zandschulp fights back against Hurkacz

Botic van de Zandschulp (ATP-70) reached the round of 16 at the Montreal Masters by defeating Poland's Hubert Hurkacz (ATP-72) in three sets: 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5. The Telegraaf reported the third set as 7-5, while NOS listed 6-3, though the NOS match narrative itself describes a break at 5-5 consistent with a 7-5 result. The 1.96-metre Pole served regularly above 200 km/h, leaving Van de Zandschulp struggling to return in the early stages. Hurkacz needed just one break to take the opening set.

The second set brought the turning point. Van de Zandschulp broke immediately for a 2-0 lead, only for Hurkacz to reel off two breaks of his own and move 4-2 ahead. Hurkacz then held two match points on his own serve but produced two double faults. Van de Zandschulp also retrieved a smash from Hurkacz in a pivotal moment before forcing the tiebreak, which he won 7-4. In the third set, the Dutchman grew into the longer rallies and broke at 5-5, helped by a net-cord that gave him two break points. He converted immediately and served out the match.

Griekspoor mirrors teammate's recovery

Tallon Griekspoor (ATP-69) followed a similar script against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi (ATP-35), winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Arnaldi broke twice in the first set to take it comfortably. Griekspoor struck early in the second set but surrendered the break straight back, before breaking again in the ninth game to level the match. In the decider, the Dutchman broke Arnaldi's serve immediately and held the advantage to close out.

The encounter was a rematch of their Roland Garros meeting in Paris roughly three months earlier, when Arnaldi won in four sets on clay. Griekspoor will next face Spain's Daniel Merida (ATP-63) in the round of 16. Van de Zandschulp's next opponent will be the winner of the match between Czech Jakub Mensik and Frenchman Terrence Atmane.

Earlier upsets set the stage

Both Dutch players had already produced headline results earlier in the tournament. Van de Zandschulp eliminated Russia's Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 6, in the second round. Griekspoor defeated Germany's Alexander Zverev, ranked No. 3, on Wednesday evening in a match lasting two and a half hours, losing the first set in a tiebreak before prevailing on his first match point.

De Minaur falls to Norrie

Australia's Alex de Minaur, the third seed and highest-ranked player remaining after Zverev's exit and Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal, was also eliminated in the third round. Britain's Cameron Norrie beat him 7-5, 6-7(5), 1-6. De Minaur led 5-2 in the second set and held a match point at 5-3 but could not convert, with Norrie recovering to force a decider and then dominating the third set 6-1.