Botic van de Zandschulp stole the attention of the tennis world with an impressive run to the US Open quarter-finals this season and he is making good use of the momentum.
After qualifying for the first Masters 1000 tournament of his career at Indian Wells this season, the Dutchman started the European Open in Antwerp, Belgium quite well when he knocked out Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in 1 hour 36 minutes.
“It still feels a little different, but I’m trying to get used to it. Everything will get better with every game,” said Botic van de Zandschulp of the attention on him.
In the second round of the European Open, 26-year-old van de Zandschulp will meet fifth seed Reilly Opelka or Opelka’s compatriot Jenson Brooksby.
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In other action, one of the best seasons for French tennis player Arthur Rinderknech continues after he knocked out Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-4, 6-4.
Rinderknech had not bagged a single win at a WTA tournament prior to the 2021 season, but he has now bagged 15 wins in the 2021 season. He won 85 percent of the points from his first serve against Delbonis in 1 hour 31 minutes.
“I’m really happy with this win. There were some amazing points and sometimes the game didn’t go my way. There were some points that could have changed the game but I really tried to stay focused and I’m happy that I was able to close the game,” Rinderknech explained.
Rinderknech, who made his debut at the European Open, is now 2-0 up in head to head against Delbonis. The world number 65 will next face eighth seed Dusan Lajovic in the second round of the European Open after the Serb eliminated another Frenchman, Richard Gasquer, 7-6, 6-1.
While the first seed, Jannik Sinner, who received a bye in the first round, will start the campaign in Antwerp by facing one of his compatriots, namely Lorenzo Musetti or Gianluca Mager. Meanwhile, the second seed, Diego Schwartzman, has the opportunity to meet Andy Murray in the second round if the British tennis player is able to overcome the American, Frances Tiafoe.
