Botic van de Zandschulp qualified for the quarterfinals of the ATP tournament in Munich on Thursday. The Veenendaler won easily against the Russian Aslan Karatsev, who also had to take action earlier in the day.
Van de Zandschulp dominated Karatsev in two sets: 6-2 and 6-0. The Russian had a busy day on the clay court in Munich. His first round match against German Daniel Altmaier was stopped on Wednesday due to rain and had to be completed on Thursday morning.
A few hours later, the match against Van de Zandschulp was already waiting. Karatsev (ATP-129) had nothing to lose against the 27-year-old Dutchman. Till 2-2 in the first set it was still equal, but then Van de Zandschulp won ten games in a row and the job was done.
Van de Zandschulp himself had a quieter run-up to his match against Karatsev. The number 29 in the world was allowed to skip the first round because of his high ranking. In the quarterfinals, the Veenendaler will compete against the American Marcos Giron, who is 68th in the world ranking.
Last year, Van de Zandschulp reached the final of the tournament in Munich. He played against the Danish talent Holger Rune, but had to give up in the first set due to chest pain and breathing problems. A few days later he was back on the track.
Home favorite Alexander Zverev suffered a painful defeat in Munich. The German number 16 in the world fell against the Australian Christopher O’Connell, who himself is 82nd in the ATP ranking: 7-6 (2) and 6-4. Zverev won the tournament in 2017 and 2018.
