Van de Zandschulp was ‘consciously looking for the feeling of winning again’ for the US Open

Botic van de Zandschulp is “feeling good” at the start of the US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the season. The 28-year-old Dutchman prepared with challenging tournaments in Europe and hopes his positive attitude will pay off in New York.

“The most important thing is that I play well again, that I feel good about myself. Then the results will come automatically,” said Van de Zandschulp after training on the hard courts.

How different it was three months ago. After his escape​​​​ at Roland Garros he considered retiring. The Wageningen native was in the doldrums and seemed unable to see any way up.

After eliminations in Rosmalen (first round) and Wimbledon (second round), he sought refuge in clay tournaments at a lower level. “I consciously chose that feeling of winning again, and the feeling of playing several games in a row.

Combined with rest time, this was the perfect recipe to regain their happiness. “From Wimbledon onwards, and afterwards, I enjoyed being on the court again. Getting everything in order and getting off the tennis court for a while helped me for sure.”

In New York, the current number 74 in the world ranking is looking forward again. “I’d like to go back to around fifty. And then look further from there. Of course, I didn’t have a good start to the year, so it would be nice if I could still doing well at the end of the year.”

Van de Zandschulp faces unpredictable Denis Shapovalov in the first round today. “You don’t know what to expect from him,” says Van de Zandschulp of the Canadian world number 105.

“Even in matches, sometimes one set is really good, then another set is really bad. It varies a lot with him. But he’s someone who could hit a lot of winners, he doesn’t have to it’s a lot of effort to get power is hard work.”

Shapovalov was one of the tennis players who speak out about the lack of ban for Jannik Sinner. The Italian world number one tested positive for doping twice earlier this year, but was released.

“Different rules for different players”. Shapovalov’s post on X, where Nick Kyrgios, among others, questioned Sinner’s case.

Van de Zandschulp does not like to engage in such discussions. “I don’t like it when colleagues are talked about like that. Of course it’s big news and people are talking about it. Everyone has their opinion, really. -especially online. But what I think about it will change very little.”

“If I had dealt with it earlier, I might have had more of an opinion about it,” continued Van de Zandschulp. “If they say he didn’t do anything, I think that’s what it is.”

His coach Peter Lucassen is also happy that Van de Zandschulp has found his way: