Botic van de Zandschulp (51st in the world) put the Netherlands ahead of Italy in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup by beating in the first singles, undecided until the end, the Italian Matteo Arnaldi (44th) 6-7 ( 6/8), 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), after saving three match points, Wednesday in Malaga.
In this match, Van de Zandschulp faltered first by conceding the first two break points, and the first set, at 4-5.
The Dutchman saved them, and the fate of the set was decided in the tie-break, won by Arnaldi after having to save a set point in turn.
Van de Zandschulp’s reaction was immediate. Pressing his shots more, giving more weight to his ball, he obtained four break points at 1-0 in the first opposing service game, saved by the Italian.
But Arnaldi could do nothing in the fifth, at 3-4, leaving Van de Zandschulp, sovereign over his commitment, to equalize at one set everywhere.
Van de Zandschulp, more powerful (1.91 m, 85 kg), almost broke the Italian at the start of the final round. But he, trailing 3-1, came back, bringing his opponent to a new decisive game where he obtained three match points before giving in in 2 h 52 min.
Jannik Sinner, world No.4 and recent Masters finalist, will try in the second singles to equalize for Italy, against Tallon Griekspoor (23rd).
Sinner is favorite, but be careful! Griekspoor gave him a hard time in the semi-finals in Rotterdam in February, during their first face-to-face, losing only 7-5, 7-6.
If the doubles prove decisive, the Netherlands will have two strong arguments. The experienced Wesley Koolhof (34 years old) and Jean-Julien Rojer (42 years old), who are respectively No.8 and 18 in the world in this specialty.
Associated with other players, they have both been crowned Grand Slams: at Wimbledon this year for the first, at Wimbledon in 2015, the US Open in 2017 and Roland-Garros in 2022 for the second.