US Open 2021: Van de Zandschulp made history by defeating Schwartzman in the round of 16

Curious: In all of the previous six games in New York – including all three qualifying rounds – Van de Zandschul lost the first set.

In his first round match against Spain’s Carlos Taberner, the Dutchman came back after trailing 2-0 (2:6, 3:6, 6:4, 7:5, 6:3).

The US Open Novice, who defeated a total of 55 winners, said: “I have no words, I’ve played many matches here and been about to finish a few times. Now I’ve won the first set for the first time, even the first two and almost lost. I’m happy. Because I won.”

Against Schwartzman, this time he won the first set after two slides at the beginning and end of the set 6:3.

Van de Zandschulp plays live

Round two also went to Van de Zandschulp (6:4), and Schwartzman didn’t even develop a breaking chance.

The Dutchman repeatedly shone with long, successive punches that made the Argentine desperate. In addition, van de Zandschulp dominated the first transmission.

In Group C, qualification was already 4:2 before Schwartzman, who reached the quarter-finals in New York in 2017 and 2019, broke through the Dutchman’s serve for the first time (4:3).

At 5:5, the Argentine took the serve from his opponent again, as he only brought 57 percent of his first serve on the field.

Schwartzman saves match points

At the start of the fourth set everything remained in line before Schwartzman could take a break to make the score 4:3.

However, the Dutchman immediately equalized and already took two match points at 5:4 and Schwartzman’s serve, which the 29-year-old Argentine saved and immediately took the next break.

Louis Armstrong Stadium looked a bit like a crazy house, especially as the Argentine fans spread the atmosphere as if it were on a football field.

However, who would have thought that everything Schwartzman was talking about, was better taught at the beginning of the fifth sentence: Van de Zandschulp dominated the rally again, taking Schwartzman’s serve twice to 2-0 and 5-1, thus silencing the Argentine butcher.

Admittedly, the 25-year-old’s nerves failed again with another two match points – but after 4:19 hours Van de Zandschul turned his fifth game point into the greatest success of his career.

There was no other qualification in New York

Van de Zandschul joined Nicolas Escod (1999) and Giles Muller (2008), who were so far the only New York qualifiers to the quarter-finals.

Five players have reached the Grand Slam semi-finals as qualifiers in the Open Era: John McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1977, Bob Giltinan at the 1977 Australian Open, Philippe Deolphe at the 1997 French Open, Vladimir Volchkov at Wimbledon in 2000 and Aslan Karatsev in 2021 Australian Open.

Including all qualifying rounds, Van de Zandschul already won 16 Grand Slam matches in 2021 – otherwise only his quarter-final opponent from New York, world number two Daniil Medvedev, was able to do so until Sunday.

“I hope they’ll be proud of me in my home country,” said Van de Zandschul, who became the first Dutch player since Sjeng Schalken in 2003 in a Grand Slam quarter-final in New York.

Sunday Round of 16:

• Botic van de Zandschulp (NED/Q) – Diego Schwartzman (ARG/11) 6:3, 6:4, 5:7, 5:7, 6:1
• Daniil Medvedev (Russia/2) – Daniel Evans (GBR/24) 6:3, 6:4, 6:3
• Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) – Peter Gojowczyk (GER/Q)5:7, 6:1, 5:7, 6:2, 6:0
• Frances Tiafoe (USA) – Félix Auger-Aliassime (Canada / 12) – Night session

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