NOS Sport•
Botic van de Zandschulp has been eliminated at the ABN Amro Open in Rotterdam. Daniil Medvedev, former number one in the world, was too strong for the Dutch tennis player in two sets: 6-2, 6-2.
In the first round, Van de Zandschulp, who is struggling with the after-effects of an upper leg injury, made a faded impression against ‘lucky loser’ Quentin Halys. He is looking for confidence and against Medvedev, currently number 11 in the world, it was not good enough.
His service didn’t go anywhere and that didn’t go well in the match. In the rally he was able to keep up with the Russian, but Medvedev struck on the important points.
In his first service, Van de Zandschulp, 35th in the world ranking, was immediately broken. At 3-1 he had the chance to break the Russian and fight back in the set. It did not work. Medvedev ran out to 6-2.
In the second set, Van de Zandschulp, who had already lost three times to Medvedev, immediately came under pressure again in his first service. The Dutchman cleared the first two break points nicely, but after a failed drop shot he still had to hand in his game.
With a 5-2 deficit, Van de Zandschulp handed in his service for the second and last time. In the quarterfinals, Medvedev will play against defending champion Félix Auger-Aliassime. He defeated the French qualifier Grégoire Barrère within an hour and a half: 6-4, 6-3.
Two Dutchmen left
There are still two Dutchmen in the singles tournament. Tallon Grepes was allowed to rest for a day after his sensational win against Alexander Zverev on Wednesday evening. On Friday he will play against the winner of the match between Gijs Brouwer, the other Dutchman who surprised, and the Danish teenager Holger Rune.
