Last week’s unparalleled performance by Tim van Rijthoven sounds like a chapter from a fairy tale book. But it really happened. What did that look like? An overview of a sensational week in ten photos.
His first match in the main schedule of the ATP tournament starts on Tuesday against the Australian Matthew Ebden. The wildcard player takes the win in two tiebreaks. His first win at an ATP tournament.
He sees it as a milestone and may even have some progressive insight: “I feel pretty good and I feel like I’m on a nice upward trend,” he tells Libéma Open.
On Thursday awaits the number one in the United States and number 14 in the world: Taylor Fritz. He provides a resounding surprise. He loses the first set in an exciting tiebreak, but he fights back and wins in three sets 6-7 (9), 7-5 and 6-4.
Van Rijthoven will meet Frenchman Hugo Gaston, number 66 in the world, in the quarterfinals. He won in straight sets 7-6 and 6-4.
His performance stands out. Journalists want to know everything about de Brabander during the press conference. Van Rijthoven himself is impressed: “I knew I could inflict damage on grass, with my good service and attacking game, but I didn’t expect that much damage.”
On Saturday, Van Rijthoven will face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the number nine in the world ranking, in the semifinals. On the center court. Something that Van Rijthoven has always had on his list.
In a true squatter, the Brabant tennis player wins 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5) and comes one step closer to the title.
The sensational week of the 25-year-old player ends on Sunday with a bang, in the final he beats none other than Daniil Medvedev with big numbers: 6-4 and 6-1.
A resounding victory for wildcard player Van Rijthoven against the upcoming number one in the world. He gives a speech afterwards and indicates that all this is new to him. That he previously saw Medvedev only on TV, and a dream has come true for him.
