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Top Seed Alexander Zverev Beaten by Tallon Griekspoor in 2nd Round at Indian Wells

Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 07 March 2025. (EPA)
Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 07 March 2025. (EPA)
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Top Seed Alexander Zverev Beaten by Tallon Griekspoor in 2nd Round at Indian Wells

Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 07 March 2025. (EPA)
Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 07 March 2025. (EPA)

Tallon Griekspoor upset No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) in a second-round match at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday.

The loss came eight days after Zverev also was the top seed when he was upset by American teenager Learner Tien 6-3, 6-4 in Acapulco, Mexico.

The Zverev-Griekspoor match lasted 3 hours, 7 minutes. Griekspoor collapsed on the court after converting his sixth match point for his first win over an opponent ranked in the top five.

The 28-year-old from the Netherlands improved to 2-6 against Zverev, currently ranked No. 2.

“It was such a mental thing. I lost to him five times last year and had absolute heartbreak at Roland Garros where I was up a double break in the fifth,” Griekspoor said. “I played so many battles against him and had chances but they all went his way. I am incredibly proud of myself from this performance and to get it over the line.”

Griekspoor, ranked No. 43, will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the third round.

Zverev trails Jannik Sinner in the rankings. He will remain at No. 2 even if No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz defends his Indian Wells title.

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Tjen First Indonesian to Win at Australian Open in 28 Years

Indonesia's Janice Tjen prepares to serve Canada's Leylah Fernandez during their women's singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
Indonesia's Janice Tjen prepares to serve Canada's Leylah Fernandez during their women's singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Tjen First Indonesian to Win at Australian Open in 28 Years

Indonesia's Janice Tjen prepares to serve Canada's Leylah Fernandez during their women's singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
Indonesia's Janice Tjen prepares to serve Canada's Leylah Fernandez during their women's singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2026. (AFP)

Janice Tjen called it "special" after she pulled off an upset to become the first Indonesian to win a match at the Australian Open in 28 years on Tuesday.

Unseeded Tjen stunned Canadian 22nd seed Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) to surge into the second round in Melbourne and add to her growing list of milestones.

Tjen, who this time last year was ranked 413 but is now the world number 59, is the first Indonesian to win a match at the major since Yayuk Basuki in 1998.

"I'm very happy to be a part of history and be able to get a win here for Indonesia," said the 23-year-old.

"It was special, especially being able to do it in front of my family here and there were a lot of Indonesians, and my close friends are also here."

Asked by AFP how her life had changed off court since a breakthrough 2025, she said: "I get recognized a little bit here and there and I think it's nice, it's a nice feeling to be recognized."

In front of the vocal Indonesia fans Tjen made a lightning start, sealing the first set in 36 minutes to leave her higher-ranked opponent from Canada reeling.

Tjen seized an early break in the second set to put 2021 US Open runner-up Fernandez immediately on the back foot.

The fourth game of the second set threatened to be pivotal, Tjen digging herself out of a hole on her own serve to hold and go 3-1 up.

The 23-year-old Fernandez fought back, reeling off three games in a row to turn the tide.
The battling duo headed into a tiebreak, where Tjen powered into a 3-0 lead and never looked back, letting out a mighty roar when victory was confirmed.

Tjen's career took off in 2025.

She pulled off another surprise in upsetting Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova as a qualifier at the US Open.

In New York she was the first Indonesian to play in the main singles draw of a Grand Slam since 2004.

The Jakarta native lifted the title in Chennai last year -- the first Indonesian to win a WTA Tour singles crown since 2002.

Reflecting on the support in Melbourne of Indonesia fans waving their red and white flag and chanting, Tjen said: "It's something special and feels a little bit like home.

"Knowing that a lot of Indonesians came out to support me today means a lot."

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‘Timid’ Keys Makes Shaky Start to Australian Open Title Defense

Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)
Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)
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‘Timid’ Keys Makes Shaky Start to Australian Open Title Defense

Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)
Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)

A jittery Madison Keys said Tuesday she was "too timid" after getting the defense of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt.

The American ninth seed was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 win over Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, but she failed to push on in 2025, winning no more titles.

She started her season with quarter-final exits at Brisbane and Adelaide, admitting before the Grand Slam to being nervous as defending champion.

"I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct," she said.

"I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do.

"That was really slowing down my footwork as well. I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do."

Playing at her 50th Grand Slam, in contrast to Oliynykova who was at her first, Keys sent down three double faults and was broken on her first service game.

The Ukrainian, ranked 92 and facing a player inside the top 50 for the first time, consolidated with a hold after six deuces in the second game to take charge.

Showing no nerves, she stunned the American by breaking again and raced 4-0 clear before Keys finally woke up and battled back.

She cut down on the errors and found her range on serve to win the next five games.

But Keys was broken again and it went to a tiebreak, where she slumped 4-0 behind and had to save two set points before converting for the set with a blistering crosscourt winner.

The gritty comeback was the catalyst for a far more convincing second set, breaking straight away and racing into a 4-0 lead before sealing the match with ease after 1hr 40min.

Despite the shaky start, Keys said it was a privilege to be back as defending champion.

"I have been thinking of that moment for basically a year," she said of returning to the scene of her greatest triumph.

"I was talking to (multiple Grand Slam winner) Lindsay Davenport yesterday.

"She reminded me that not many people get to be a defending champion at a Grand Slam, so just trying to embrace it and enjoy it.

"And, as nervous as I was at the start, I'm really glad to be back and to win that match."

Sports

Morocco Refer AFCON Champions Senegal to CAF and FIFA

Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Morocco Refer AFCON Champions Senegal to CAF and FIFA

Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

The Moroccan Football Federation said Monday it has formally referred to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA incidents involving Senegalese players and supporters protesting a penalty to Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Senegal's protest in added time of normal play during Sunday night's clash in Rabat led to the match being paused for nearly 20 minutes as the players walked off the pitch in anger.

Some Senegalese fans at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play.

The AFCON hosts' football federation said these acts "had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players' performance", with Morocco then missing the penalty that could have granted them their first African title in 50 years.

The federation said "it will resort to legal procedures" with CAF, the tournament's organizing body, and FIFA "in order to rule on the withdrawal of the Senegalese national team from the field"... "as well as on the events that accompanied this decision".

It said the referee's decision to grant the Atlas Lions a penalty was "deemed correct by unanimous opinion of specialists".

FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned "some Senegal players" for the "unacceptable scenes".

Senegal scored the game's only goal just four minutes into extra time after the players returned to the pitch following an appeal from star forward Sadio Mane.

Several Moroccan media outlets on Monday criticized Senegal for a lack of fair play and unsporting behavior.