It just doesn’t stop for Tim van Rijthoven from Roosendaal. The tennis player won the Libéma Open in Rosmalen last Sunday out of the blue and now receives a wild card for Wimbledon as a reward for that unparalleled performance. “Finally, all the hard work is paying off.”
That Van Rijthoven can now go to the prestigious tennis tournament in London is a dream come true. “Wimbledon is the most beautiful and prestigious tournament in the world. The nostalgia, the traditions, the obligatory white clothing.” And don’t forget the strawberries. “If I win a round, they will definitely be eaten. With a lot of whipped cream.”
It is not quite the first time that Van Rijthoven has stood on the sacred grass. In 2014 he reached the quarterfinals of the junior tournament in London. A breakthrough was not forthcoming, partly due to injuries.
“Since I won that final, my phone has been red hot.”
So it’s extra special that it still happens years later. Thanks to the win of the Libéma Open, Van Rijthoven rose in the world ranking to place 106. De Brabander was supposed to participate in a British challenger in Ilkley this week, but he has withdrawn from that.
Not surprising, because with Wimbledon on the doorstep, taking a break from all the hustle and bustle is not a superfluous luxury. “Since I won that final, my phone has been red hot. The applications just keep pouring in.” Whether the brand new celebrities like that? “I just have to get used to it now.”
“It’s bizarre. And I’m not saying that because he’s my son.”
Father Ton van Rijthoven was already proud of the wildcard his son received for Libéma. “Getting a wildcard and then accomplishing this, it’s bizarre. And I would have said that about every tennis player, I’m not saying this because he’s my son.”
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