It was a question that was repeated ahead of the 2021 US Open men’s quarterfinals. Even his opponent, Daniil Medvedev, was on the receiving end, until the man himself replied: how do you pronounce Botic van de Zandschulp?
It’s tough, the Dutchman acknowledged. But maybe it’s worth getting used to. Not because he was the only man to face eventual champion Medvedev in New York that year, but there are a few more from that country making a name for themselves in elite tennis. Try Tallon Griekspoor. Or Tim van Rijthoven.
Van de Zandschulp, 27, is the Dutch number one ranked 35th in the world. He reached a peak of 22 last year in which he had a career-high 38 wins and a first ATP final in Munich. Joining him in the top 100 is Griekspoor, 26, the 2023 ATP Tata Open Maharashtra champion. Currently 95, his first ATP title in Pune on Saturday will see him move up 34 places next week.
Three of his compatriots are in the top 200. Led by van Rijthoven (world No. 111), stunned Medvedev at the Libema Open last June to become the first Dutchman to win an ATP 250 title since Sjeng Schalken in 2003, there’s also Jelle Sels. (133) and Gijs Brouwer (156). More than 100 places below Brouwer is Robin Haase, 35, who, largely since the turn of the century, had been the lone ranger of Dutch tennis in men’s singles.
“Robin Haase did very well in the last few years, but it was just him,” Griekspoor said. “Botic then stepped up, I tried to step up, Tim won that title last year.
“We are a fairly small country. We don’t have too many players, we can’t compare ourselves with countries like Spain, Italy. We have a Challenger event and two ATP events, which is good but not enough for young people.”
The Netherlands have had a battery of doubles stars and Grand Slam champions among the men, but 1996 Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek remains their only singles slam success story. Although, as the 25-year-old van Rijthoven said, Krajicek is still admired by the country’s budding players, van de Zandschulp has been the new face. His upset run to the 2021 US Open quarterfinals as a qualifier made him the first Dutchman to reach the quarterfinals of a major since 2004.
“I think I was the first to break a bit. The other guys started to believe in themselves and got good results,” said the world number 35.
Nothing beats van Rijthoven’s home title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch as a professional ranked 205th in only his second ATP Tour tournament. Griekspoor leveled up his 2021 Challenger of six titles in 2022 by racking up 17 ATP Tour wins and breaking into the top 50. Together, they helped the Netherlands earn a place in the Davis Cup round of 16 last season.
“The Botic inspired us by going to the US Open quarterfinals. I had a great run in the Challenger right after, and now a few more guys are following us in the 100-200. I feel like we have a really good group of guys who can do a lot of damage on the ATP Tour,” Griekspoor said, keeping to his word as he begins this season with the Pune title.
The key term here is “boy group”. Griekspoor and van de Zandschulp spent the entire pre-season training together at home. The Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Association in Amsterdam is their base. The others also often join in when they are not traveling. That’s where having a proper group beats the only standout star for a tennis nation.
“The other guys beat us in practice sometimes, so they feel like if they can do it, so can we,” Griekspoor said. “It’s not like we’re at the next level, we just try to work hard and do the best we can. Young people see that and try to follow us.
“It’s difficult when there are only 1 or 2 players and you need to figure things out for yourself. In this way we help each other and it seems that this is the right path for us. This is also the case in Italy (which has 5 top-100 players) and Spain (10). It’s always good to have players near or near you to watch and try to inspire each other and improve.”
