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“Great. It’s a grand slam tournament and then Wimbledon is the highest on the list to win for most. It’s great.” Ex-profit tennis player and current Davis Cup captain Paul Haarhuis is impressed by The historical title In the mixed doubles of Sem Verbeek.
But Verbeek is not the only Dutch asset in the doubles. With David Pel there is another Dutchman in the final battle today, this time in the men’s doubles game. He will compete with Rinky Hijikata against the British duo Julian Cash/Lloyd Glasspool.
For (34) lives his dream On the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Until this week he had never got further than the third round of a grand slam tournament. The one -off collaboration with the Australian Hijikata appears to be a golden move.
Golden move
A golden move with a downside. The regular double partner of Pel, the Swiss Jakub Paul, could not appreciate the choice of a one -off other teammate and ended the collaboration. That means that Pel has to look for a new regular partner after Wimbledon.
“Pel has made a logical choice by saying that he was going to take the risk of playing Wimbledon with someone else,” says Haarhuis on NPO Radio 1 Along the line and surroundings. “That it would turn out that way, nobody could have imagined in advance.”
What Haarhuis surprises most is that Pel and Hijikata had to eliminate match points in no fewer than three games. In the semi -final battle they undone in the decisive tiebreak. “It’s exactly with them. How many tournaments can you play in which you survive match points in three games?”
Pel and Hijikata have already performed under great pressure. Perhaps there is a stunt against the British on Saturday, the number five of the placement list. “For them too, it is the biggest competition in their existence. If Brit Wimbledon can win, also gives extra pressure.”
The 31-year-old Verbeek was the first Dutch man ever to crown Wimbledon champion in the mixed doubles on Thursday. The Amsterdammer did that on the side of Katerina Siniaková, a 29-year-old Czech.
“Siniaková has been one of the top doublers on the ladies tour for years, so Sem had one of the best by his side,” says Haarhuis. “Someone who has proven that she can deal with pressure on the biggest stage and win big tournaments.”
Haarhuis, who took six grand slam titles in the double play during his active career, emphasizes that the triumph is also the merit of Verbeek. “Sem has taken big steps forward in the last twelve months,” he explains. “In terms of level, but also in terms of trust.”
