“I thought about quitting tennis this year.”

Beating Altmaier stays in the net and fist Van de Zandschulp points to the roof Martin Karpena. This confirmation of the week by Van de Zandschulp is implausible. In just four days he became an executioner Nadalachieved the final point in doubles against Spain and laid the first stone at the crossroads Germany. “It’s unimaginable,” he told OKDIARIO less than 24 hours before the final. Davis Cup in view of Italy.

Martin Karpena’s Van de Zandschulp leaves at a slow pace, as if what is happening on the track is not happening to him. His body language suggests that he is a tennis player who doesn’t care what happens when he holds the racket. Calm when he misses a point, and calm when he points it out. The Dutchman doesn’t even flinch

throughout the game. And not when it ends.

He approaches the goal without making any gestures, greets his opponent and heads to the bench with the inner satisfaction of having done his homework. Only those closest to the matter knew the name Botich Van de Zandschulp, who will forever be remembered as the last tennis player to defeat Nadal. “This is something I still don’t know about.. I’ll think about it when I finish the tournament, but this is something special,” he says.

A tall man, 1.91 meters tall, who remembers that same year he beat Rafa and Alcaraz at the US Open and competed in the first and only Dutch Davis Cup final. “I didn’t expect this before the competition started.. The goal was to pass the fourth grade, but to achieve all this in a couple of days… No, I certainly didn’t expect it. The first day against Spain was very difficult. They are an incredible team and the atmosphere played against us,” he begins.

Botik, revived Davis

“Beating them is an achievement in itself, but after beating Germany and reaching the final for the first time… It’s incredible. “I’m very happy,” Boteach tells this newspaper, he adds. The list of Dutch tennis players does not feature prominent wrists, but there are contrasting rackets with packaging. His life is in 80th place in the rankings in the ATP peloton..

He left Spain out at the first opportunity and set off a chain of events that tarnished the tribute to Rafa. Ever since Ferrer announced the Spaniard’s inclusion in the Spanish national team, all eyes have been on Nadal. “I felt like he was under pressure. We were both nervous because we wanted to win, but it was not an easy game, knowing that it was his last,” he analyzes.

Boteach also forced the Granollers-Alcaraz tandem to surrender. The Murcian also got tangled up in the Dutchman’s cannon during the last US Open, where the Dutchman lost to him. “It was a crazy match in which I played very well and Carlos couldn’t do it.. This gave me a lot of confidence for the upcoming tournaments. This match helped me a little in the doubles match against Spain,” he details.

At 29, Van de Zandschulp is enjoying his best week with the racket, which he came close to hanging up last summer when he hit rock bottom after losing to Fognini at Roland Garros. “It was a very difficult period. I was traumatized and I didn’t like it. I was thinking about quitting tennis“But I’m glad I didn’t do it,” admits Boteach, who comes this Sunday for the biggest challenge of his sporting career.