Written by Rick Spikenbrink

Greek track Tallon and Botic van de Zandschulp put the crown on the job at the Emirates Circuit. An excellent tennis week in Scotland concluded with a landslide victory over the powerful tennis nation, the United States. The Greek track played a high-quality match and beat Tommy Paul (7-5, 7-6), after which Van de Zandscholp settled with Taylor Fritz: 6-4, 7-6. As a result, the defeat of Wesley Koolhoff and Mattoi Middelkoop in the doubles no longer had any consequences. Rajiv Ram and Jack Sock were very strong with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (3), 4-6.

The Netherlands had already secured a place in the Davis Cup finals late last night in Malaga, at the end of November in Malaga, with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain. The Greek track said, “It was hard not to celebrate that in the evening.” But Captain Paul Harhuis insisted that the third meeting was also of great importance. He wanted to avoid the powerful Italians in Málaga. A meeting with Australia, most likely without Nick Kyrgios, or Germany – perhaps without Alexander Zverev – provides greater chances of reaching the semi-finals beforehand.

The team again gave craftsmanship. Both singles faced an opponent higher in the world rankings, but this was not reversed. The Greek track served well and switched perfectly between attack and defence, which is crucial on the slow track in Glasgow. Van de Zandschulp, who had already convincingly won yesterday against Britain’s top 10 player Cameron Norrie, continued that streak against Fritz (ATP-12). He played with conviction and optimism and always took the lead in the rally against the most difficult American. His game is more complete than that of the 12th in the world, which is another encouraging sign. Certainly a few points from Van de Zandschulp for passing through an episode, very well.

With Tim van Reethoven and the world’s top doubles players, the Netherlands will be traveling to Spain in a couple of months. In this form and composition, the Harhuis team is not a good opponent for any country. The atmosphere in the team is great, Davis Cup fever caught on. The team wants more than one place in the quarter-finals. Judging by the week in Glasgow, it’s unrealistic.