Tim van Rijthoven failed to reach the main schedule of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career on Friday. The Dutchman lost in the third and final round of the qualifications for Roland Garros to the Slovak Norbert Gombos.
The 25-year-old Rijthoven and the six-year-older Gombos were very evenly matched and did not grant each other a single breakpoint. In the two inevitable tiebreaks, Gombos was slightly better than the Dutchman: 7-6 (6) and 7-6 (5). Gombos is number 115 in the world, Van Rijthoven occupies 202nd position in the global ranking.
To reach the main schedule of a Grand Slam tournament, you must survive three rounds. Van Rijthoven started the qualifying tournament strong by beating Colombian Emilio Gomez (6-4 and 6-2) and Frenchman Enzo Couacaud (6-4 and 7-5) without losing a set.
Van Rijthoven tried once before to qualify for a Grand Slam tournament via the qualifying tournament. The current number 202 in the world stranded in January in the second qualifying round for the Australian Open.
Due to the loss of Van Rijthoven, none of the Dutch tennis players managed to reach the main tournament of Roland Garros via the qualifications. Jesper de Jong stranded in the second round.
Van de Zandschulp and Greek Rail defend Dutch honour
With Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon groenpoor, the Netherlands is represented in men’s singles with two tennis players. Van de Zandschulp, who enjoys protected status, will start the tournament against a still unknown qualifier.
Greek track will face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round. (ATP-28). In the women’s competition, only Arantxa Rus participates in the main singles schedule.
The last time three Dutch men were represented at a Grand Slam tournament (in singles) was in 2016. Igor Sijsling, Robin Haase and Thiemo de Bakker participated in Roland Garros five years ago.
The Grand Slam tournament in Paris starts on Sunday and lasts until June 5. Novak Djokovic is defending champion on French clay.