Dutch number one Tallon Griekspoor described his own performance as “scandalous” after being knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round by Jensen Brooksby.
Griekspoor, the world number 29, arrived in London in form after winning the Mallorca Open the previous week without dropping a set during the tournament.
But he was brought down to earth with a bump by the 24-year-old American, who dominated the match to win in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 6-3.
“From euphoria to a really ugly defeat – that’s the reality of life in tennis,” Griekspoor said after his two-hour ordeal on court 14. “It was a scandalous match, one of my worst ever. I’ve never served so terribly.”
The 28-year-old Dutchman grew visibly frustrated during a match in which he served 10 double faults and clocked up 42 errors in total, at one point scolding himself: “You can’t hit a ball.”
Strong opponent
His American opponent’s ranking of 101 was deceptive: Brooksby reached the final of another warm-up grass court tournament in Eastbourne at the weekend and was ranked 33rd in the world two years ago.
He dropped down the rankings after being suspended for 13 months for not being available for three drugs tests in the space of a year, under the sport’s strict anti-doping rules.
Griekspoor pulled out of the doubles tournament, where he was due to team up with fellow Dutchman Botic van der Zandschulp, in the wake of his defeat. “We spoke about it beforehand. I don’t feel like staying here for the doubles,” he said.
Van der Zandschulp will resume his own first-round match on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead over the Italian Matteo Arnaldi, after both sets went to tie-breaks.
Three other Dutch players will start their Wimbledon campaigns later on Tuesday. Suzan Lamens is playing 17-year-old Iva Jovic of the USA on court 7, followed immediately by Jesper de Jong’s tournament debut against big-serving American Christopher Eubanks. Veteran Arantxa Rus will face yet another American, Caroline Dolehide, on court 5.
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