Van de Zandschulp stranded in third round Indian Wells

Butch van de Zandschulp failed to reach the eighth final of the Masters at Indian Wells on Tuesday night. The Dutchman had to admit his superiority on the American hard court in Serbia Miomir Kekmanovic.

26-year-old Van de Zandschalp pulled the short straw in a match that lasted 1 hour 41 minutes: 6-7 (3), 5-7. The 22-year-old Kecmanovic ranks 61st in the world and is fourteen places lower than the Dutchman, who should have treated his foot in the second group.

This was the second time that Van de Zandschulp participated in Indian Wells. The Dutch tennis leader reached the main table of the prestigious tournament in the United States as a qualifier last year, but was stranded in the first round against American Marcus Jeron.

Van de Zandschulp caused this year’s stunt in the second round by eliminating Canadian World Player of the Year Felix Auger-Aliassime (ATP-9). In the first round, he was already too strong for American qualifier Tennys Sandgren.

The Greek Talon track also participated in the heavily busy tournament at Indian Wells, but was eliminated in the first round by Sam Querrey. Kikmanovic awaits a meeting in the eighth finals with Matteo Berrettini, ranked sixth in the world.

Van de Zandschulp treated himself on foot

In the first group, Van de Zandschulp and Kikmanovic were already on equal terms. However, the Dutchman was late in the decisive tiebreak, after which he hung his head and grumbled to himself. Kikmanovic took advantage of the opportunity and won the tiebreak with four consecutive points.

There seemed to be more to play for Van de Zandschulp, as he requested a 1-1 medical time out in the second set. De Veenendaler cured himself for a few minutes off his right foot and was able to carry on, but the physical discomfort seemed to hold him back.

Immediately after medical treatment, Van de Zandschulp lost his first service match with a 1-1 draw, but fought back at 3-4. With a nice forehand win on the line, he took advantage of one of his two stopping points.

It turned out to be suspended. Van de Zandschulp broke down again at 5-5 after quickly falling behind on serve, before Kikmanovic sealed the match with a love game.