On Tuesday in Bologna, Belgium made significant progress toward securing a spot in November’s Final 8 by defeating the Netherlands 2-1. The match began with Botic van de Zandschulp continuing his impressive form, having won 10 of his last 13 Davis Cup singles matches by overcoming 22-year-old debutant Raphael Collignon. Zizou Bergs then played a pivotal role in Belgium’s comeback by defeating Tallon Griekspoor. The decisive moment came when Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen staged a dramatic comeback in the doubles match, securing a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof after three intense hours.
The match, held at the Unipol Arena, was marked by passionate support from both sets of fans, though the Belgian supporters were left celebrating as their team emerged victorious. Belgian captain Steve Darcis expressed the team's joy and relief, noting the significance of their underdog win and emphasizing that it was a collective team effort.
Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis made a strategic gamble by choosing the untested doubles pairing of van de Zandschulp and Koolhof, who had been a fixture in the Netherlands’ doubles lineup since late 2019. Despite saving 10 of 12 break points and winning their third consecutive Davis Cup match together, Gille and Vliegen led Belgium to victory. The Netherlands, conversely, suffered their fifth straight doubles defeat.
Bergs’s win over Griekspoor, marked by his 20 aces, including two crucial ones in the final game, highlighted his breakthrough season. Griekspoor, who struggled at the start, could not recover from a slow beginning, leading to his frustration. Meanwhile, van de Zandschulp capitalized on crucial moments to defeat Collignon, avenging a recent Challenger title loss to him. Overall, Belgium’s ability to capitalize on key points proved decisive in their victory.
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