Botic van de Zandschulp is excited about the upcoming Davis Cup Finals! The Dutch player could face the legend Rafael Nadal for the third and last time in a career, with the legend ending his tennis journey in Malaga. Botic admitted it would be fantastic to face Rafa, especially if it turns out to be the Spaniard's final match.
Van de Zandschulp tries not to think about Nadal too much, keeping his focus on training and the upcoming matches. Botic labeled Rafa as his idol, watching his matches on TV and remembering their two encounters from two years ago.
RafaandBoticembrace the first duel at Roland Garros 2022
Nadal and Botic van de Zandschulp embraced two duels within a couple of weeks on the most notable stage in 2022. They battled for the first time in the Roland Garros third round, with the king of clay scoring a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory in two hours and 11 minutes.
The Spaniard dominated with his first serve, taking 40 of 46 points. He played against three break chances and got broken two times, mounting the pressure on the other side. The Dutch player dropped almost half of the points in his games, playing against12 break points and suffering six breaks to propel his rival through.
Nadal landed 25 winners and 13 unforced errors, controlling the pace and outplaying his opponent in the opening two sets. Rafa delivered more efficient numbers in the shortest and mid-range rallies, doing more damage with his serve and the first groundstroke.
Van de Zandschulp stayed in touch in the most advanced exchanges, but it was not enough to keep him safe. The lower-ranked player made a reliable start and grabbed a break in the first game of the duel with a deep return. Nadal responded promptly and delivered a break at 15 in game two for 1-1.
They served well in the next three games before Rafa stepped in on the return at 3-2. The legend welcomed the rival's forehand error, earning a break and moving in front. Nadal served for the opener at 5-3 and landed a service winner for a hold at love and 6-3 in 35 minutes.
The 13-time champion served well in the second set and mounted the pressure on the other side. Van de Zandschulp wasted a game point at 1-1 and suffered a break after Nadal's forehand down the line winner. Rafa closed the fourth game with a service winner and made another push on the return.
The Spaniard painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the fifth game, providing his second break and opening a 4-1 gap. Botic saved a set point on serve at 1-5 before Rafa fired an ace in the next one, opening a 6-3, 6-2 advantage in an hour and 14 minutes and marching toward the top.
Van de Zandschulp missed a forehand at the beginning of the third set and fell behind. Nadal grabbed another break in the third game and held with a service winner in the next one for 4-0.The Spaniard missed a backhand in the sixth game, allowing his rival to reduce the deficit.
Rafa closed the eighth game with a volley winner at the net, opening a 5-3 gap. Botic grabbed the ninth game at 15 to prolong the action and generated a break chance at 4-5. Nadal saved it with a powerful serve and hit a smash winner on a match point to seal the deal.
They meet again at Wimbledon a few weeks later
Two rivals arranged another duel at Wimbledon a few weeks later, stepping on the Centre Court in the fourth round. Nadal scored a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6victory in two hours and 22 minutes, advancing into his eighth and last Wimbledon quarter-final. Rafa outplayed his opponent on serve and return and missed a chance to seal the deal earlier.
The Spaniard served well and pressured his opponent, losing serve two times and generating 11 break points. He converted five and prevailedin the closing stages of the third set to advance.Nadal served at 77% in the opening set and gave away six points in his games.
Van de Zandschulp overcame early issues and stayed in touch in the opening nine games.The 36-year-old attacked on the return at 5-4 and caused the rival's mistake, earning a break and moving 6-4 in front.Rafa mirrored his performance from the first set, dropping six points on serve in the second and challenging Botic.
A left-hander saved a break point in the first game with a service winner. Hewelcomed the rival's backhand mistake in the second game to secure the second straight break and forge the advantage. Nadal delivered three fine holds and led 5-2 after a powerful serve in game seven.
Rafa made another push on the return in the eighth game. Heconvertedthe third set point after Botic's double fault and openeda 6-4, 6-2 gap in an hour and 20 minutes.Nadal experienced the first setback at the beginning of the third set, squandering a 40-0 lead and losing serve for the first time.
The Spaniard pulled the break back in game two with a forehand winner and earned another return game with a cracking backhand crosscourt winner in game six. The two-time champion fired a service winner at 4-2, moving closer to the finish line and serving for the win at 5-3.
Suddenly, he dropped serve at 15, bringing his opponent back to the positive side. Van de Zandschulp used this opportunity and served well in two games, introducing a tie break. Rafa stayed focused and cracked a backhand down the line winner for 2-0. Botic pulled a mini-break back in the fourth point for 2-2.
However, he missed a drop shot in the sixth point, pushing the legend 4-2 in front. Nadal secured another mini-breakin the seventh point and created three match points at 5-3 after a massive forehand error from the other side. Botic saved the second with a backhand down the line winner, climbing back to 5-6.
Nadal sprayed a backhand error on the third match point, squandering his chances and allowing his rival to extend his chances. Rafa created the fourth match point with a service winner and seized it after a smash error from his rival, moving into his last Major quarter-final.
"Facing Spain will be fantastic. They are playing at home, and Rafa's retirement adds more specialty. I could be the last man who has beaten Rafa. However, I try not to think about that because I would go crazy. I really want to face him for the third and last time. Rafa was my idol, and I watched his matches on TV. Of course, you always want to beat such a great player, but facing him alone is something unique," Botic van de Zandschulp said.
