He is back after five years of tennis in the United States: Sander Jans. He won the first edition of GLTB’s two-star National Ranking Tournament (NRT). TAM player Amber Maalderink made her placement with the women.
Jans returned in May of this year from Magnolia, Arkansas, where he spent the last two years of his American studies. He played tennis for Southern Arkansas University, aka the Mule Riders, a three-hour drive from Dallas, Texas. De Rodenaar, now 26 years old, is one of the many strong tennis players in the Netherlands who combine one or more years of study and tennis at an American college .
Nationals
His highlight there? Jans doesn’t have to think long. ,,That was reaching the Nationals, the national final of the collegiate tennis , which the top 16 teams in the entire US qualified for. So we belonged to the best 16 teams, but in the second division, the second level. We went out in the first round of the Nationals, but it was an unforgettable experience.”
He completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration there, and from now on Jans will settle permanently in the Netherlands again. Tennis remains his main activity for the time being. Jans was once among the best 20 tennis players in the Netherlands, as his younger brother Jarno still does (he is 10th) and Sander would like to regain that position. ,,Because of America, I no longer have a high ranking in the Netherlands, but I don’t think my tennis has deteriorated. I spent a lot of time on the track there, although I also had some nasty injuries to my wrist and elbow. But they are gone again, I can hit full again.”
Difficult against Frisian talent
This became apparent in the final, which Jans had a difficult start against Kjell de Hek, a 19-year-old talent from Buitenpost. De Hek is on a roll: last week he also reached a final in a two-star NRT, that of TAM in Groningen. Edward Etty from Hoorn was then too strong for him.
Jans had all the trouble with the young Frisian in the first set in a match in which both players alternated nice winners with unnecessary misses. De Hek won the first set 6-3. But Jans’ routine was the deciding factor. In the second set, the native of Rode remained calm and won 6-4. The third went on for a long time. At 4-3, Jans broke the service of De Hek and was able to serve: 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Jans also won the doubles, together with fellow Drent Robin Grit. The duo from Drenthe won against Boas Deden and Jouke Jan Schaap (6-4. 7-6).
Maalderink wins her third NRT
Amber Maalderink (23) won the women’s race. After her victory at her own TAM last week and last year at Veracket, this means her third NRT victory ever. The Achterhoek native, who grew up in Zelhem and is 52nd in the Dutch ranking, defeated Anoek Pruijmboom from Utrecht in the final, who reached the semi-finals at TAM last week.
With twice 6-2, Maalderink was clearly too strong for the 19-year-old, who also just returned from the United States. ,,I had trouble with the gravel”, said Maalderink, who is in her fifth year at TAM and hopes to complete her studies in Human Movement Sciences soon. ,,I’m so used to smash court, that those balls bounce high for me here. But at times when I was having a hard time, she just started making some mistakes.”