Botic van de Zandschulp suggests overcoming a thriller in opposition to Daniel Altmaier wasn’t that tough as a result of the Dutch does not suppose something ever might be as onerous as enjoying Rafael Nadal in entrance of the Spanish crowd within the 38-year-old’s final professional match.
On Tuesday, the world No. 80 upset the 22-time Grand Slam champion 6-4 6-4 within the opening match of the Netherlands and Spain quarterfinal tie on the Davis Cup Finals. Because the Dutch crew went on to win in three rubbers, the 29-year-old turned out to be the final participant who performed and defeated the previous world No. 1. Additionally, it ought to be famous that the match was performed in Malaga in entrance of a sold-out crowd that closely supported Nadal.
Three days later, van de Zandschulp returned to the court docket and edged out 88th-ranked Altmaier 6-4 6-7 (12) 6-3 after two hours and 44 minutes of play.
After profitable the primary set, the Dutchman additionally led 4-2 within the second set and had 4 break factors to go up by a double break. However after failing to appreciate them – he dropped his serve – the set went right into a tie-break – the place he missed out on 5 break factors earlier than dropping the set.
Nevertheless, dropping the second set in a really devastating method did not influence a lot van de Zandschulp, who began the decider with an early break. Whereas the world No. 80 blew that early break, he did not panic and broke Altmaier once more within the eighth recreation earlier than serving out for the match within the following recreation.
“I’m undecided really [how I did it], I didn’t know what to do anymore on these match factors. Within the second set, I had 4-2 15-40, I felt like if I had made the double break there, it will be recreation, set and match, Within the tie-break, he dealt with a few of the match factors fairly nicely, really. I had the hardest match of my life on Tuesday, so all the pieces that comes subsequent is a little bit bit simpler,” van de Zandschulp said following a thriller win over Altmaier.
Botic van de Zandschulp© KNLTB Tennis/Instagram – Fair Use
After this match, Tallon Griekspoor also delivered against Jan-Lennard Struff and Netherlands progessed into the final, where they will meet Italy or Australia on Sunday.
Van de Zandschulp answers if his Nadal victory has sunk in yet
Going into their Davis Cup tie, the former world No. 22 admitted he would like to play the Spaniard because he used to idolize and look up to the Spaniard. And not only that it happened, but he also ended up being the last to play the record 14-time French Open champion.
While it was probably the most special moment of van de Zandschulp’s career, for now he remains focused on the Davis Cup and will only think about his feat later.
“No, not yet. Maybe after the tournament. For me, this stuff always takes some time, especially when you’re during a tournament… You want to focus on the next match; same happened in the US Open for example with Carlos Alcaraz. That’s how I process things. Maybe in the next week I will process it,” he instructed the Olympics web site.
Botic van de Zandschulp© KNLTB Tennis/Instagram – Honest Use
Van de Zandschulp admitted one thing was totally different about Nadal this time
For the 38-year-old, it was his first match on the primary stage because the Paris Olympics. And after all the pieces he had been by within the final two years, it wasn’t stunning that he was removed from his greatest stage in Malaga.
Beforehand, Nadal clinched straight-set wins over van de Zandschulp on the French Open and Wimbledon in 2022.
“I haven’t actually thought of it, really. After all it’s been totally different. I performed him twice. Performed him in Roland Garros, Wimbledon. I feel he was a special participant there possibly bodily. I believed immediately he was, I gained’t say struggling, however in fact you see he will get older, and the accidents are taking its toll, I feel. So, yeah, I haven’t actually thought of being the final man to beat Rafa, however possibly I’ll in a few days,” the world No. 80 said in his post-match presser after beating the former world No. 1.
“A special evening for many reasons. The most special reason was that it was the end of Rafael Nadal’s career as a professional tennis player. He is the player that I watched for hundreds of hours since I was a young kid who dreamed of playing on the big stages. I never imagined playing against him one day, especially to share this moment with a true legend. Gracias, Rafa,” he famous.
It stays to be seen if van de Zandschulp can now cap off his week by profitable the Davis Cup title.
