The Dutch discovering their ft once more in world tennis | Tennis Information
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It was a query most repeated forward of the 2021 US Open males's quarter-final. Even his opponent, Daniil Medvedev, was on the receiving finish of it, till the person himself answered it—how do you pronounce Botic van de Zandschulp?
It’s robust, the Dutchman acknowledged. However it’s maybe price getting used to. Not as a result of he was the one man to take a set off eventual champion Medvedev in New York that yr, however there are just a few extra from that nation making a reputation in elite tennis. Strive Tallon Griekspoor. Or Tim van Rijthoven.
Van de Zandschulp, 27, is the No 1 Dutchman ranked thirty fifth on the earth. He surged to a peak of twenty-two final yr during which he had a private better of 38 wins and a maiden ATP last in Munich. With him within the high 100 is 26-year-old Griekspoor, the 2023 ATP Tata Open Maharashtra champion. At the moment 95, his maiden ATP title in Pune on Saturday is about to maneuver him up 34 locations subsequent week.
Three of their compatriots are within the high 200. Led by van Rijthoven (world No 111)—he surprised Medvedev on the Libema Open final June to turn into the primary Dutchman to win an ATP 250 title since Sjeng Schalken in 2003—there’s additionally Jelle Sels (133) and Gijs Brouwer (156). Over 100 locations beneath Brouwer lies 35-year-old Robin Haase who, for a big half because the flip of the century, had been the lone ranger for Dutch tennis in males's singles.
“Robin Haase did it very well over the previous couple of years, but it surely was simply him,” Griekspoor stated. “Botic then stepped up, I attempted to step up, Tim gained that title final yr.
“We’re a fairly small nation. We do not have too many gamers, we will’t examine ourselves to international locations like Spain, Italy. We have now one Challenger and two ATP occasions, which is nice however not sufficient for the younger guys.”
Netherlands have had a battery of doubles stars and Grand Slam champions among the many males, however 1996 Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek stays their solely singles Slam success story. Though, as 25-year-old van Rijthoven stated, budding gamers within the nation nonetheless look as much as Krajicek, van de Zandschulp has been the brand new face. His shock 2021 US Open quarter-final run as a qualifier made him the primary Dutchman to achieve the final eight of a Slam since 2004.
“I feel I used to be the primary one to interrupt by means of a bit bit. The opposite guys began to consider in themselves and acquired some good outcomes,” the world No 35 stated.
No higher than van Rijthoven’s residence title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch as a 205th-ranked professional in solely his second ATP Tour match. Griekspoor took his six-title 2021 Challenger present a stage up in 2022 by raking up 17 wins on the ATP Tour and breaking into the highest 50. Collectively, they helped the Netherlands earn a spot within the Davis Cup Finals knockouts final season.
“Botic impressed us by going to the quarters of the US Open. I had an ideal Challenger run straight after, and now some extra guys are following us within the 100s-200s. I really feel we've a extremely good group of fellows who can do some good injury on the ATP Tour,” Griekspoor stated, holding his phrase by kicking off this season with the Pune title.
The important thing time period right here is “group of fellows”. Griekspoor and van de Zandschulp spent the whole pre-season coaching collectively at residence. The Royal Dutch Garden Tennis Affiliation in Amsterdam is their base. The others additionally usually take part when not travelling. That is the place having a correct bunch outvalues the one standout star for a tennis nation.
“The opposite guys beat us in apply typically, so that they really feel like if they will do it, so can we,” Griekspoor stated. “It isn't like we're subsequent stage — we simply attempt to work arduous and do issues nearly as good as potential. The younger guys see that and attempt to observe us.
“It is robust when there's solely 1-2 gamers and you must determine issues out your self. This fashion we assist one another and it seems to be like that is the correct approach for us. That is additionally the way it goes in Italy (which has 5 top-100 gamers) and Spain (10). It’s all the time good to have gamers shut or close to you to see and attempt to encourage one another and get higher.”
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