The Netherlands have secured their place in the Davis Cup final for the first time in history after defeating Germany 2-0 in the semi-finals in Málaga. Under the leadership of captain Paul Haarhuis, the Dutch team achieved a momentous victory through stellar performances from Botic van De Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor in the singles matches, leaving the doubles match unnecessary.
The Oranje now await their final opponents, who will be determined by Saturday’s clash between Italy and Australia. The championship match is scheduled for Sunday at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena.
The day began with van De Zandschulp delivering a hard-fought victory over Daniel Altmaier, sealing the match 6-4, 6(12)-7(14), 6-3. The Dutch player gained the upper hand in the opening set with a decisive break in the ninth game, later closing it out on serve. The second set saw a fierce battle, with Altmaier saving four break points in the seventh game and breaking back to force a tie-break. In a dramatic back-and-forth exchange, Altmaier saved five match points and clinched the set 14-12 with an incredible backhand winner, one of the tournament’s standout moments. In the deciding set, van De Zandschulp regained control, breaking Altmaier twice and finally converting his 10th match point after a marathon of 2 hours and 44 minutes of play.
Griekspoor followed with an equally gritty performance against Jan-Lennard Struff, winning 6(4)-7, 7-5, 6-4. The Dutch No. 40 had to come from behind after Struff claimed the first set in a tie-break. Griekspoor showed resilience, fending off two crucial break points in the second set before breaking Struff at 6-5 and serving out to level the match. In the third set, Griekspoor seized an early break in the opening game and maintained his advantage. Though he missed a chance to extend his lead at 3-1, the Dutchman kept his composure and closed the match in just over two hours, supported by an impressive 25 aces.
This victory marks a new milestone for the Netherlands, which has already defied expectations by eliminating Spain, led by Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, in the quarter-finals. The Dutch team now looks forward to Sunday’s final, aiming to cap off their historic campaign with the ultimate prize.
