Also Van de Zandschulp after a win over Gasquet to the last 16 at Wimbledon

Botic van de Zandschulp has nestled in the last sixteen at Wimbledon, just like his compatriot Tim van Rijthoven. The number 21 of the placement list had the greatest difficulty with veteran Richard Gasquet (and the gusts of wind that whirled across the playing field), but ultimately won: 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6 -2.

If Van Rijthoven has to face tournament favorite Novak Djokovic in the fourth round, Van de Zandschulp is probably waiting for a meeting with Rafael Nadal, who will play against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego later on Saturday.

It is the first time since 2002 that two Dutch men have come this far on the London grass. At the time, Sjeng Schalken and Richard Krajicek were among the last sixteen tennis players at Wimbledon.

Because the first (women’s) match on lane 2 was already settled within an hour, Van de Zandschulp had to start earlier than planned. Perhaps that was partly to blame for his rough start. Despite a 30-0 lead, things already went wrong in his first serve, due to some sloppiness.

Because Gasquet (ATP-69) survived two break points along the way, the 36-year-old Frenchman was allowed to serve for the first set at 5-3. Van de Zandschulp (ATP-25) did not resign himself to the course of events and also received unexpected help from his opponent, who left five set points unused and produced no fewer than four double errors. He even handed in the game with two in a row.

The rebreak turned out to be the signal for Van de Zandschulp to take a closer look at directing. His seething forehand, in particular, drove Gasquet to despair, in his fifteenth Wimbledon. A new break followed, after which the 26-year-old Veenendaler won the set with a love game.

For a moment, Gasquet’s resistance seemed broken. However, appearances were deceiving. The Frenchman, who won the first (Nottingham, 2005) and last (Rosmalen, 2018) of his fifteen ATP titles on grass, straightened his back.

He cleared four break points himself, but struck twice on the service of the grumbling Van de Zandschulp, who regularly had problems with the wind.

Van de Zandschulp started the third set energetically with a break, but that was not enough to prevent a tiebreak. Gasquet failed to do so. who had no windfalls to complain about until then, to walk out to 6-3. With a double fault, he left hopes for a good outcome alive with Van de Zandschulp, who promptly came alongside and struck on his second set point.

The tiebreak won gave Van de Zandschulp wings. He broke Gasquet on love in the fourth game with a beautiful lob, after which the Frenchman threw in the towel.