Dutch tennis players ended the group stage of the Davis Cup tennis finals on Sunday with defeat against Croatia. This didn’t matter much, because the Dutch team was already top of the group.
After Boteach van de Zandschulp’s victory and Talon Grekboer’s defeat, the pair of Wesley Kohlhoff/Matoi Middelkop lost in doubles. Mate Pavic and Duje Adjokovic were very strong: 6-3, 4-6, 8-10.
Previously, the Netherlands were too strong for Finland and the United States in the group stage. Both countries lost 2-1 with team captain Paul Haarhuis playing the team.
In the quarter-finals, the Netherlands awaits a meeting with Italy or Serbia, led by Novak Djokovic. The draw will take place on Tuesday at 12 noon and the final round of the Davis Cup Finals is scheduled to be held in Malaga next November.
Last year, the Netherlands surprised at the top of the group that included the United States, Great Britain and Kazakhstan. Then the Dutch team failed in the quarter-finals against Australia.
The Greek track loses surprisingly
Earlier in the day, Van de Zandschulp was too strong for Agdjokovic in the opening match: 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. The Dutchman is 138 places ahead of the Croatian in the world rankings: from 68 to 206.
In the first set, Van de Zandschulp quickly moved up to break point and never gave it up. After an early break in the second set, it seemed that he was on his way to an easy victory, but Agdjokovic resisted and was forced to play a decisive set. World number 68 still finished it.
Then Greek Spor lost to Burna Gogo in three sets: 6-4, 6-7 (2), 4-6. The Dutchman is ranked 24th in the world, while his competitor is 53 places behind.
In the first set, Grek Burr needed only one break point, after which Jojo won the second set via tie-break. In the deciding set, the Dutch player overcame his opponent’s serve deficit, but lost his serve again, with the score 3-3, and then the match.
