Botic van de Zandschulp reached the second round of Roland Garros on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dutchman was too strong for Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov during his opening match in Paris in four sets.
After more than 2.5 hours it was 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-2. In both the first, second and third set, Van de Zandschulp had a hard time with the number 143 in the world and broke in three games in a row.
In the fourth set, in which it started to rain but the match against Van de Zandschulp’s wishes was not interrupted, the Dutchman immediately took the initiative with an early break. At 5-2, he struck with a smash on his fourth match point.
Van de Zandschulp, who as a top thirty player has a seeded status at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, will face Fabio Fognini (ATP-52) or Alexei Popyrin (ATP-103) in the next round. After that, Rafael Nadal may be waiting.
It is the second time that Van de Zandschulp participates in Roland Garros. De Veenendaler stranded in the second round last year. Later in the season, he made the quarterfinals at the US Open, by far his best Grand Slam performance.
Tallon Greek track will also play at Roland Garros on Sunday. The 25-year-old Dutchman will meet Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the opening round.
Botic van de Zandschulp has a seeded status at Roland Garros this year.
Botic van de Zandschulp has a seeded status at Roland Garros this year.
Photo: EPA
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