Tim van Rijthoven continues to amaze: Dutchman too strong for Reilly Opelka at Wimbledon | Sport

It soon became clear that Van Rijthoven would have to use every breakpoint he got against the more than two meters long Opelka, number 18 in the world. After all, the powerful service is the great weapon of the American. In the first set, the Dutchman did that perfectly. With a score of 2-2, Van Rijthoven was able to break Opelka and because the Dutch Wimbledon debutant was very strong on his own service, the first set went to Van Rijthoven 6-4.

The game was originally scheduled for lane 12, but due to the rain early in the day, games were moved to other lanes. On the small court 4, near the Center Court, both players gave each other little. Van Rijthoven hit a total of seventeen aces, Opelka two more. The Dutchman eventually won twenty points more than his opponent.

In the second set, Van Rijthoven finally found out in the tiebreak itself that the opportunities that were offered actually had to be seized. The Dutchman got set points, but Opelka’s service was always too powerful for him. The moment Van Rijthoven managed to return Opelka’s powerful service, the Dutchman gave his opponent another chance through a failed lob. As a result, Opelka won the second set 7-6(8).

After that missed opportunity in the second set, the third set was almost a copy of the second. Again a tiebreak had to be made. The big difference with the second set was that Van Rijthoven, who once again played a great match, now took advantage of the break chance. He took the third set with 7-6(7) with which the Dutchman was only one set away from a place in the third round of Wimbledon.

And that place in the third round, it came. Crucial was the second game in the fourth set. Opelka took a 40-0 lead and got a total of four breakpoints in that game, but the American was unable to use them all.

The sequel of the set? He was able to guess again. Both men remained clear on their serve, although Van Rijthoven did smell a chance at 5-5 after a 30-0 lead on Opelka’s service. But yes, there was again a tiebreak and Van Rijthoven placed a sliding minibreak in it. A decisive minibreak, because the Dutchman was victorious and can report in the third round of Wimbledon.

25-year-old Van Rijthoven is the first Dutch man to reach the third round at Wimbledon since 2013. Nine years ago, Igor Sijsling managed to win two matches in London. Sijsling is now Van Rijthoven’s coach. In the next round, Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia, number 26 in the world, awaits.

Tallon Greek track was eliminated in the second round eliminated by Carlos Alcaraz† Botic van de Zandschulp will play in the second round on Thursday afternoon, against the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.