Van Rijthoven will face Novak Djokovic on Sunday. For Van de Zandschulp, his fourth round is scheduled for Monday. The last time two Dutch men came this far at Wimbledon was in 2002. Both Sjeng Schalken and Richard Krajcek then lost in the quarterfinals. In 2018, Kiki Bertens made it to the last eight.
Van de Zandschulp met his opponent from France once before. At the Australian Open earlier this year, the Dutchman started poorly, but continued without problems because Gasquet had to give up injured. Van de Zandschulp has made great strides in the past year. For example, in a year’s time he has reached at least the third round in all majors and he is now 25th in the world ranking.
Richard Gasquet can’t make it
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Just like in his match in the second round against Emil Ruusuvuori, Van de Zandschulp’s start was not good. He immediately handed in his first service game to the experienced Frenchman. Gasquet got four set points at 5-3 to tie it up, but still gave up the game with three double faults in a row. It was the signal for Van de Zandschulp to raise his level. Two games later, the set was in the bag.
Mediocre set
In the second set, Gasquet initially seemed ready for the slaughter, but when Van de Zandschulp did not push through, the game turned again. The unnecessary mistakes again became more numerous and the chagrin took the upper hand with the best Dutch tennis player. The score was soon tied in sets: 1-1.
At the start of the third set, Van de Zandschulp’s bad mood gave way to doggedness. He broke Gasquet immediately, but was unable to push through. A 2-0 lead made way for a 2-3 deficit and the grumbling of the Dutch side also increased again.
Crucial tiebreak
In the remainder of the set, the game went on evenly. With a score of 5-5 0-30, the break seemed imminent for Van de Zandschulp, but three unnecessary errors later, Gasquet was again at 40-30. With a wonderful volley, the routine still dragged the game out. A quick service game later by Van de Zandschulp, the tiebreak could start. In the beautiful tiebreak, Gasquet got a set point at 6-5, but two forehand winners from the Dutchman and an error by his opponent later, the set was in.
Resistance broken
In the fourth set, Van de Zandschulp broke at a 2-1 score and did not look back. He hardly awarded his opponent any points and now has to wait and see who will face him in the fourth round.
View Van de Zandschulp’s match point below
Source: discovery+
Nadal next opponent
Rafael Nadal is the opponent of Botic van de Zandschulp in the fourth round of Wimbledon. The 22-time grand slam champion had little trouble getting rid of Sonego in the third round.
Nadal had little trouble with Sonego
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Sonego, 27, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, losing to Roger Federer. Against Nadal he never once again claimed a place in the last sixteen and after 2 hours and 3 minutes Nadal finished it off. At 4-2 in the third set, the game was interrupted due to the closing of the roof, due to darkness. Sonego came back to 4-4, but two games later the victory was in for the number 4 in the world.
The game between Nadal and Van de Zandschulp will be played on Monday. The two also met at Roland Garros at the end of May and then Nadal won in three sets (6-3 6-2 6-4).
36-year-old Nadal is aiming for his third Wimbledon title and his first since 2010.