Davis CupLeader Botic van de Zandschulp immediately put the Netherlands ahead in the Davis Cup meeting with Canada. On the gravel of The Hague, he had his hands full with the unknown Alexis Galarneau for more than two hours, before putting the first point on the board: 7-5 7-6(9).
The Netherlands is lucky that Canada is missing all the big names at Sportcampus Zuiderpark. World toppers Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP ranking 9) and Denis Shapovalov (number 13) are absent, as are former number 3 Milos Raonic and the experienced Vasek Pospisil. This opens the way for the men of team captain Paul Haarhuis towards the Davis Cup Finals later this year.
Botic van de Zandschulp opened the Davis Cup meeting against low flyer Alexis Galarneau, who is normally mainly active on challengers and the tournament level still below. Yet the number 332 in the world did not make it easy for the much higher placed Dutchman (ATP ranking 48) from the first set. Van de Zandschulp also took care of that himself by hitting the necessary double errors. At 5-4, the best Dutch tennis player got two set points, but it was Galarneau who still managed to place the re-break. Two games later it was hit: 7-5.
Also in the second set, Van de Zandschulp was not just rid of Galarneau. One break followed another and the 26-year-old tennis player from Wageningen was unable to distance himself. In particular, his own service remained doubtful and the Canadian even got three set points at 5-6, after the set had already lasted more than an hour. Van de Zandschulp eventually managed to pull out a tiebreak and won it, although this also went with pain and effort. He needed four game points to finish it: 11-9.
Later this afternoon, Tallon groenpoor will enter the clay court in The Hague for his match against Steven Diez. Should he also win that match, Wesley Koolhof and Matwé Middelkoop could immediately decide it in the doubles tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise, it will be the turn of Van de Zandschulp and Greek Rail.
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