The Netherlands made history on November 22, 2024, by reaching their first-ever Davis Cup final, defeating Germany in a thrilling semifinal. The Dutch team’s success was propelled by standout performances from Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor, who played crucial roles in the victory in Malaga, Spain.
The Semifinal Triumph:
In the opening singles match, van de Zandschulp took on Daniel Altmaier and started strong, winning the first set. However, Altmaier fought back, saving multiple match points and forcing a tiebreak in the second set. After letting several opportunities slip away, van de Zandschulp refocused and won the third set 6-3, closing the match 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3, to put the Netherlands one win away from the final.
In the second match, Tallon Griekspoor faced Jan-Lennard Struff. Griekspoor made full use of the fast indoor courts, delivering 25 aces and winning 83% of first-serve points. He recovered from a set down to win 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4, securing the Netherlands’ spot in the final.
This victory marked a monumental achievement for the Netherlands, as they reached the Davis Cup final for the first time in the tournament’s 105-year history.
Dutch Coach’s Playful Remark:
Following the victory, Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis was visibly jubilant and praised his players for their performances. In a lighthearted interview, Haarhuis, reflecting on the strength of the potential finalists, Italy, jokingly suggested a playful (and certainly untrue) tactic to handle the challenge of facing Jannik Sinner and the defending champions. He humorously mentioned, “We’re playing so well, guys are getting confidence from these wins. But the other semifinalists are very tough teams. Italy as defending champs with Sinner, I think we’re going to have to poison some of the food over there,” alluding to the challenge of facing the Italian team in the final.
A Historic Run:
The Dutch team had already proven their resilience earlier in the tournament, having defeated Spain in the quarterfinals. This was a particularly emotional victory for Spain, as it marked the retirement match of Rafael Nadal. The Netherlands beat the home team 2-1, with van de Zandschulp overcoming Nadal in his final match, and Griekspoor securing a key victory in the doubles match alongside Wesley Koolhof.
The Netherlands’ best previous performance in the Davis Cup was in 2001, when they reached the semifinals. Haarhuis, who is now coaching the team, was a part of that 2001 squad, making this achievement even more special for him.
Looking Ahead:
On November 24, the Netherlands will play in their first-ever Davis Cup final, where they will face either Italy, the defending champions, or Australia, the 2023 runners-up. The match promises to be a monumental occasion for Dutch tennis, as they seek their first Davis Cup title.
With the team’s blend of experienced players like van de Zandschulp and Griekspoor, and a passionate coach like Haarhuis, the Netherlands are poised to put up a formidable challenge.
