Agency :
An inspired Netherlands team made Davis Cup history on Nov 22, as they put their nation into the final for the first time with a 2-0 defeat of Germany.
Singles wins for Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor sparked a party among an army of orange-clad Dutch fans inside the Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga.
Paul Haarhuis’ team will next face either defending champions Italy or Australia in today final.
“It’s unbelievable, we have been talking about this for two or three years,” Griekspoor said on court.
“We came here all the time and had unbelievably tough draws, losing to finalists and winners and this year we had Spain in the quarter-finals, but we believed in ourselves so much and we felt like it was possible.”
Van de Zandschulp, the player who ended Spanish great Rafael Nadal’s career on Nov 19, held his nerve to beat Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-7 (12-14), 6-3, although he required 10 match points to give his side the edge in the semi-final.
“It could have been easier but I did it the hard way,” he said.
“At some point, I didn’t know what to do any more on the match points. But I had the toughest match of my life on Tuesday (against Nadal), so everything that comes next is a little bit easier.”
The world No. 80 has won all three of his rubbers this week, including beating Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the decisive doubles against Spain.
Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff looked like keeping the three-time champions in with a chance of reaching the final for the first time since 1993 as he led by a set and a break of serve against Griekspoor.
But the 40th-ranked Dutchman produced a stunning fightback to win 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-4, capping the decisive win with his 25th ace.
Captain Haarhuis, who played in the Dutch Davis Cup team from 1990 to 2005, paid tribute to his players.
“For me, it means I’m a finalist for the first time ever in the Davis Cup and to be part of this team who have played so well in the past five years,” he said.
“Especially unique as we don’t have the top-five player, the top-10 player, but it’s a team effort and we have shown we can get here. The guys have a lot of confidence after this but we will have to come out there on Sunday and believe that it’s our time.”
