NOS Sports†today, 21:27†Amended today, 22:04
Tim van Rijthoven continues to amaze. The grand slam debutant, who recently stunted with the ATP title in Rosmalen, reached the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday evening. The number 104 in the world beat Reilly Opelka, the number fifteen of the placement list, with: 6-4, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4).
It is the first time since 2013 that a Dutch man has come this far in singles. Then it was Igor Sijsling, coincidentally Van Rijthoven’s coach at the moment, who survived two rounds.
Those who love beautiful, long rallies could skip the game on lane 4. The main ingredients were short points and a lot of service violence. Van Rijthoven won no less than 90 percent of the points when his first serve was in and eliminated all five Opelka’s breaking chances.
He himself got six, of which he used one. He missed two set points in the first tiebreak, but was icy cool in the other tiebreaks.
Greek track no match for Spanish teenage sensation Alcaraz
Tallon Greek track did not qualify for the third round. The global number 53 didn’t play bad, but lost 4-6, 6-7 (0), 3-6 against the Spanish super talent Carlos Alcaraz.
AFP
The 19-year-old Alcaraz, placed fifth in London, needed five sets in the first round to get rid of the German Jan-Lennard Struff and Greek track also put the gravel specialist to the test.
In balance
The two played against each other twice before and both won once. Greek track was the strongest in Montpellier in February of last year and the Spaniard won in Estoril in April of last year.
However, in the decisive moments at Wimbledon, Alcaraz had just that little bit extra. He broke Greek track in the first set at 4-4 and was clear in the tiebreak: 7-0.
Greek track, who stranded in the first round in 2021, came alongside after an early break in set three, but a break at 2-3 was too powerful for him afterwards.
