WILD-CARD OUTSIDE TOP 100 GETS DJOKOVIC NEXT
WIMBLEDON, England
It is, to be sure, the stuff of movies: An oft-injured guy ranked outside the top 100, making his Grand Slam debut thanks to a wild card, knocks out two seeded players on his way to a fourthround matchup at Wimbledon against none other than No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the three-time defending champion.
We can guess what Hollywood might do with that script. Tim van Rijthoven, a 25-year-old Dutchman, earned the chance to see what will happen in real life across the net from Djokovic after both men won in straight sets Friday at the All England Club.
“Before the tournament started, it was a dream for me to play him, basically. So to be able to have that chance, and to maybe even play on Centre Court or Court 1, is beautiful and magical,” van Rijthoven said after beating No. 22 Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Court 12, with its capacity of 1,736, to become the first wild-card entry since 2015 to get to the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
“I go into every match thinking I can win the match,” said van Rijthoven, whose baseline-based style eliminated No. 15 Reilly Opelka earlier in the week. “Also, against Djokovic, I’ll go into that match thinking I can win that match.”
Actually, until June, the backward-ballcap-wearing van Rijthoven never had won a match on the ATP Tour. Since then, he hasn’t lost one, going 8-0, including a victory over current No. 1 Daniil Medvedev to claim the trophy at a grass-court event in the Netherlands.
“It’s been a long one. I’ve had my ups and downs, injuries here and there. Also struggled mentally,” said van Rijthoven, whose health issues included wrist surgery, a procedure on a vein in his right arm because of thrombosis and nine months healing from “golfer’s elbow” that he noted with a smile he incurred from playing tennis.
“I’m just happy to be in the place I am right now,” he said. “I hope to be there for a couple more years — or a lot more years, actually.”
If he’s an unknown to most, he is not to Djokovic, who grabbed the initial seven games and then six of seven in a strong stretch later on, during a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 22 Miomir Kecmanovic at Centre Court.
That’s in part because Djokovic is pals with van Rijthoven’s coach, Igor Sijsling. And in part because he’s been keeping an eye on the guy.
So Djokovic offered a bit of a scouting report.
“His game, from what I’ve seen, is quite suitable to this surface. His big serve, onehanded backhand. Uses the slice well. He’s an all-around player. He can play fast, he can also stay in the rally and come to the net,” said Djokovic, who seemed to enjoy the sunny, breezy conditions in the afternoon, compiling a 36-13 edge in winners against his Serbian Davis Cup teammate. “I’m sure he’s excited to play on a big stage. He doesn’t have much to lose. He’s on his dream run. He’s a young player that is just starting, so I’m sure his career will be very good.”
Other men’s fourth-round matchups set up for the middle Sunday — traditionally an off day, that is now a scheduled day of play for the first time in the tournament’s 145-year history — are No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 10 Jannik Sinner, No. 23 Frances Tiafoe vs. David Goffin, and No. 30 Tommy Paul vs. No 9 Cam Norrie.
Djokovic is eyeing a seventh career title at Wimbledon and 21st major championship overall. Only one other man on the top half of the bracket ever has been to the fourth round at the All England Club in the past: Goffin.
And Djokovic is the only man still around who reached last year’s quarterfinals.
“I’ve been playing better and better as the tournament progresses,” Djokovic said. “I always expect the highest of myself.”
In women’s play, Tatjana Maria reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time by beating fifthseeded Maria Sakkari 6-3, 7-5. This is the 35th appearance at a major for the 34-year-old German who says getting this far “feels amazing.”
Maria will next face 12thseeded Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion who beat Irina-Camelia Begu 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Heather Watson also hadn’t reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam. But the 30-year-old Briton moved on with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win against Kaja Juvan.
Watson, a 30-year-old from Britain, made her Grand Slam debut in 2010 and this is her 43rd appearance at one of the sport’s four most important tournaments. It is the first time she has reached the fourth round (same for Niemeier, whose only previous major showing was a first-round exit at this year’s French Open).
Inspired by her sister’s comeback, Venus Williams made one of her own. She and partner Jamie Murray won a mixed doubles that was the first in any tennis discipline for the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion in more than 10 months.
They defeated Alicja Rosolska and Michael Venus 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 in a first-round match on No. 1 Court. The 42year-old Williams says “(entering) was definitely super last minute. Just inspired by Serena.”