The beating of Altmaier stay in the net and fist Van de Zandschulp shows the roof of Martin Carpena. This is the confirmation of a week, that of Van de Zandschulp, improbable. In just four days, he became the executioner of Nadalscored the last point in doubles against Spain and laid the first stone at the crossroads Germany. “It’s unimaginable,” he admits to OKDIARIO less than 24 hours before the tournament final. Davis Cup with a view to Italy.
Martín Carpena’s Van de Zandschulp sets off with a slow pace, as if what is happening on the track is not with him. His body language suggests that he is a tennis player indifferent to what happens when he holds the racket. Calm when he misses a point and calm when he emphasizes it. The Dutchman doesn’t even flinch throughout the game. Not when it ends either.
He approaches the net without any gesture, greets his rival and walks towards the bench with the inner satisfaction of having done his homework. Only those closest to the circuit knew one name, that of Botic Van de Zandschulp, who will forever be remembered as the last tennis player to beat Nadal. “This is something I’m still not aware of.. I’ll think about it at the end of the tournament, but it’s something special,” he said.
A tall man, 1.91 meters tall, who remembers that in the same year he beat Rafa, Alcaraz at the US Open and participated in the first and only Dutch Davis Cup final. “I didn’t expect this before starting the competition.. The goal was to pass the fourth grade, but to achieve all that in a few days… No, of course, I didn’t expect that. The first day, against Spain, was very tough. It’s an incredible team and the atmosphere worked against us,” he begins.
Botic, the revival of Davis
“Beating them was already an achievement in itself, but after beating Germany and reaching the final for the first time… It’s incredible. “I am very happy,” says Botic in his conversation with this newspaper,” he adds. The list of Dutch tennis players does not record exceptional wrists, but it does feature contrasting rackets loaded with wrappers. His life at 80th place in the rankings, in the ATP peloton.
He left Spain out at the first opportunity and triggered a series of events that tarnished the tribute paid to Rafa. Ever since Ferrer made public the Spaniard’s inclusion in the Spanish team, the spotlight has been on Nadal. “I felt the pressure was on him. We were both nervous because we wanted to win, but it was not an easy match knowing that it was the last for him,” he analyzes.
Botic also caused the tandem of Granollers and Alcaraz to abandon. The Murcian also got caught in the Dutchman’s barrel during the last US Open in which he ended up losing to the Dutchman. “It was a crazy match in which I played very well and Carlos couldn’t do it. This gave me a huge confidence boost for the tournaments to come. This match helped me a little for the doubles against Spain,” he explains.
At 29, Van de Zandschulp is having his best week with a racket that he was on the verge of hanging up last summer, when he hit rock bottom after his defeat against Fognini at Roland Garros. “It was a very difficult time. I was hurt and I didn’t like it. I thought about quitting tennis“But I’m glad I didn’t do it,” admits Botic, who arrives this Sunday in the biggest challenge of his sporting career.
