‘Really want to get to the final’

“Paul (Haarhuis, ed.) already said that it was a long time ago. 2001 or 2002? I have no idea if we ever reached the final,” were Van de Zandschulp’s words last night after the late victory over Spain.

It was 2001. Then the Netherlands, with Sjeng Schalken and Raemon Sluiter in the team, lost to France.

Now that the Netherlands has reached the semi-finals again after almost a quarter of a century, national coach Haarhuis is hungry. “Now that we are in the semi-finals, we really want to get into the final.”

And that is quite possible against Germany, according to experience expert Sluiter.

“In terms of draw, this is of course great. First of all, playing against the neighbor is of course an appealing poster. And if we assume that Germany plays again in the same line-up as against Canada, then Botic is the favorite against Daniel Altmeier on an indoor court. Tallon against Jan-Lennard Struff is fifty-fifty and in the doubles I think the Germans are very slightly the favorite.”

“Kevin Krawitz and Tim Pütz have played together much more than Botic and Wesley Koolhof. But with Koolhof we have the best doubles player in the world. If I had to pick a favorite to win the entire encounter, it would be the Netherlands. They will I can’t say it myself, but in my opinion they are the slight favorite.”

There is at least one advantage, Haarhuis knows. “Their number one is not a top five player (Struff is 43rd in the world rankings, ed.). Just like Spain had global number three Carlos Alcaraz.”

“They do have very good players,” Haarhuis wants to emphasize. “But this team is a little more equal to us. Although that also gives them the feeling that they can beat us.”

The question is what Greek Spoor and Van de Zandschulp have left after their matches against the guns Nadal and Alcaraz. After all, it was a “very difficult match”, Van de Zandschulp described the match against Nadal, referring, among other things, to the flute concerts of the home crowd in Malaga.

“They were cheering when I missed my first serve. The conditions were not easy.” Van de Zandschulp is the first – and only – Dutchman who has managed to beat Nadal.

“What he has done is very clever,” says Sluiter. “Although Nadal may have been at 40 percent of his potential, it is still the great Nadal you are playing against and you are still playing in Spain against Spain.”

The former tennis player hopes that Van de Zandschulp can match that performance against the Germans. “Then you have the momentum in your hands. If he wins that first match, the pressure is on the Germans and you will feel better about the double yourself. That gives a boost to confidence.”

Perhaps the biggest strength of the Dutch team in the match against Spain was Van de Zandschulp’s doubles partner Koolhof. The doubles specialist showed wonderful things.

“Wesley was incredibly good from start to finish,” said Van de Zandschulp after winning the doubles match. “I can certainly give Wesley a pat on the back. He has made an incredible number of returns. Also incredible at the net. And good serving. I hope he can bring this level to Friday.”

A semi-final in the Davis Cup does bring pressure. Sluiter knows this better than anyone. “But it is completely different now than in 2001. We played the quarter-finals in April and the semi-finals in September. The build-up to such a semi-final is now very different and in general this format is slightly less demanding, physically and mentally.”

The atmosphere and pressure are also completely different now, Sluiter says. “We played at home in Ahoy in front of thousands of fans. Now the atmosphere and pressure of this tournament is more like an ordinary tournament. That is really a different story.”

“But of course it remains a Davis Cup semi-final. It would be crazy for those guys if they reach the final, that will be a highlight in their career. It may already be that with the win over Spain, but hopefully one or two more chapters. This will always stay with her.”