NOS Sport•Sunday, 17:38•Adjusted Sunday, 22:54
Dutch Davis Cup team fights its way to quarterfinals via doubles
The Dutch tennis players managed to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup group stage for the third time in a row on Sunday evening.
The Netherlands lost the final encounter with Italy in Bologna 2-1, but did get the necessary point thanks to the win in the doubles. Wesley Koolhof and the outstanding Botic van de Zandschulp defeated Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (5), 7-5.
With that one win, the Netherlands ends up second in the group behind Italy. Brazil and Belgium are eliminated. The Davis Cup quarterfinals will take place in Malaga, Spain, from 19 November.
“I am incredibly proud of these guys,” cheered team captain Paul Haarhuis. “The difference in the matches this week was incredibly small. It feels good that we can go to Málaga again.”
Pressure was high
The pressure was high for Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp, after the Netherlands had fallen 2-0 behind due to defeats by Van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor in the singles.
Van de Zandschulp lost to Matteo Berrettini (6-3, 4-6, 4-6) and Griekspoor was defeated by Flavio Cobolli: 6-7 (4), 6-4, 3-6.
ReutersConsultation at Botic van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof
The Dutch duo, who had hardly ever played doubles together before this week, made a particular impression with Van de Zandschulp’s hard shots and Koolhof’s reflexes at the net.
“I played well in the singles earlier in the day, so I knew my level was good,” Van de Zandschulp said. “Wesley and I had been playing doubles well all week. I enjoy playing doubles with him, so that makes everything a bit easier.”
Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp forced the decisive break at 6-5 in the second set and converted the third match point thanks to a fiery return from Van de Zandschulp, who this week in Italy once again confirmed that he has found his way back up after a difficult period.
The win meant an end full of euphoria for the Netherlands after a gruelling day of tennis in Bologna.
In addition to title holders Italy and the Netherlands, Australia, Spain, Germany, the United States, Canada and Argentina also qualified for the last eight of the Davis Cup.
