2024-11-22 22:19:00
The Netherlands reached the final of the Davis Cup for the first time as Tallon Griekspoor fought back to win his singles match and clinch a 2-0 victory against Germany.
Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat Rafael Nadal in the final match of the Spaniard’s career on Tuesday, put the Dutch team 1-0 up on Friday when he defeated Daniel Altmaier in the first singles match.
The world number 80 needed 10 match points to wrap up a tense 6-4 6-7 (12-14) 6-3 win.
Griekspoor stopped the best-of-three tie from going to a deciding doubles as he surged back from a set down to overcome Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-4.
“We believed in ourselves so much, we always felt this was possible so to do it now feels unbelievable,” said Griekspoor.
The Netherlands will face defending champions Italy – led by world number one Jannik Sinner – or Australia in Sunday’s final.
“It’s more unique that we do it because we don’t have that top-five player, we don’t have that top-10 player, we don’t have that top-15 player – but it’s a team effort,” Netherlands captain Paul Haarhuis said.
“We have to believe in ourselves, whoever is against us, that we can do it. It’s our time this year. We’re here and we’re going to make it count.”
Three-time winners Germany were aiming to reach the final for the first time since they last won the title in 1993.
They were without world number two Alexander Zverev, who said last month that he would miss the Davis Cup Finals in order to “recover and be back at 100%” for the 2025 season.
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How did the Dutch team support each other during their journey to the finals?
**Interview with Botic van de Zandschulp on Netherlands’ Historic Davis Cup Victory**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Botic! Congratulations on the Netherlands reaching the Davis Cup finals for the first time. That’s an incredible achievement!
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** Thank you! It’s a surreal feeling for all of us. We’ve worked so hard, and to finally get to this stage is amazing.
**Interviewer:** You played a pivotal role in this journey, especially in your match against Rafael Nadal. Can you take us through that experience?
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** Facing Rafa was both daunting and exciting. Playing in front of his home crowd was intense, but I focused on my game. I had to stay composed, and I’m proud of how I managed to overcome that atmosphere.
**Interviewer:** It must have been quite the battle. What do you think was key to your success in that match?
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** I think it was about believing in myself and executing my strategy. I served well and kept pushing him on the court. Staying mentally strong was crucial, especially because I knew how much the crowd was supporting him.
**Interviewer:** This victory against Germany to clinch the finals really highlighted your team’s strength. Can you talk about Tallon Griekspoor’s decisive match and what it meant for the team?
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** Tallon’s match was phenomenal! Coming back to secure that 2-0 victory was a real team effort. We supported each other throughout the event, and seeing him fight back to win was just the icing on the cake. It shows the depth and determination of our team.
**Interviewer:** How does it feel to be part of a historic moment for Dutch tennis?
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** It’s truly special. We’ve always had great tennis players, but reaching the finals is a milestone that can inspire future generations. I hope it encourages more young players in the Netherlands to pursue the sport.
**Interviewer:** What’s next for you and the team as you prepare for the finals?
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** We’ll focus on training and adjusting our strategies. We know it will be tough, but we’re excited to compete. We’re just going to take it one match at a time.
**Interviewer:** Thanks for your insights, Botic. We wish you and the team all the best in the finals!
**Botic van de Zandschulp:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and hope to make our country proud!
For more details on the Netherlands’ victory and Botic’s win over Nadal, you can check out the full story [here](https://www.tennis.com/news/videos/i-would-cheer-for-rafa-botic-van-de-zandschulp-overcoming-rafael-nadal-s-home-crowd-advantage-in-davis-cup-finals) [[1](https://www.tennis.com/news/videos/i-would-cheer-for-rafa-botic-van-de-zandschulp-overcoming-rafael-nadal-s-home-crowd-advantage-in-davis-cup-finals)].