Amidst the theories about the pitch and the adjustments, the Covid and the positives from Cilic, Berrettini and Bautista, the pools being made about who will be the champions on the 9th and 10th, a name has crept in heavily Wimbledon.
“Right now I’m surfing the wave. We’ll see where it ends…”
Up until a month ago Tim van Rijthoven (Roosendaal, Netherlands, 25 years old) had only recorded one win on the pro circuit (Rotterdam, February) and carried with him another of those difficult stories involving so many players who lose in the semifinals Fog of the circuit, those aspiring to break into the professional stage. “It’s been a long road with ups and downs. injuries here and there. mental struggles. So I’m very happy to be where I am and I hope to stay here for a few more years or even a few more years,” the Dutchman said this Friday after beating Nikoloz Basilashvili (6-4, 6 : 3 and 6) -4 ) and keep it up riding the green, witnessing a bloom that gets people talking.
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As he tried to cross the challenger’s moat and get his head into the elite three years ago, injuries kept him cold. First the doll; then an arterial operation; and finally nine months in the infirmary for “golfer’s elbow,” he explains. That said, not a few adversities. However, just over two weeks ago, his personal story took a radical turn. Everything has changed. “Title [sobre la hierba de s-Hertogenbosch, en su país] It came out of nowhere because he hadn’t even won a challenger yet. So basically it’s a lot of hard work and faith to go into training and games with a positive attitude.”
And in this way, working and believing tirelessly, he beat two top 10 finishes (Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev) and clinched the title, also catching the attention of Wimbledon. The England major granted him an invitation and he, now 104th in the world and with a cannon on duty – 21 straight aces this Friday, 53 towards the last 16 – is pushing it like it’s the last. He’s already claimed three victims (Delbonis, Opelka and Basilashvili) and now he’s targeting Novak Djokovic himself.
“I play and I think I’m the best”
– Basically before the tournament started it was a dream to play against him and playing against him on Center Court or Court 1 is something magical. if i can beat him Yes I think so. For a while now I’ve been going out there thinking I’m better and I can beat anyone. That is one of the keys that explains this situation.
This week the warning is hitting one corner or another of All England: ‘Be careful, Van Rijthoven is coming’. The Dutchman ties eight straight wins and Nole, conveniently suspicious, is no stranger to his rival’s white heat in the eighth. Significantly reducing compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic (6-0, 6-3 and 6-4), the Serb has maintained the firm pace of this first week, but he is wary of a player who will attempt to exploit the spectrum of uncertainty that surrounds that Game on grass and the dynamic with which it matters. There are already eight wins in a row.
“I’ve followed him, it’s pretty impressive what he’s doing. He has an ideal game for this surface,” points out the champion of 20 majors, who is defending the title and has not had a single scratch so far. Without giving up a single partial, Djokovic continues to capture a good mood and shows that he has an idyll with green; In fact, he hasn’t lost on this surface since losing to Cilic in the 2018 Queen final. He has 24 wins, equaling Australian Rod Laver’s personal record; only Roger Federer (65) and Björn Borg (41) surpass them.
No one has captured the Temple of London more often than the Swiss (8). Without him, Djokovic points to his seventh title, which would see him join Pete Sampras and William Renshaw in the second historic stage of the English major tournament.
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