NUSSLOCH, January 25, 2019
Two Dutchmen, one Austrian and one German player are part of the semi-finals line-up at the MLP Cup in Nußloch. Tim van Rijthoven, the last seeded player left in the singles draw of the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 Event, edged past Takanyi Garanganga of Zimbabwe 6-4, 7-6(5) on Friday afternoon.
The 21-year-old from the Netherlands fired 10 aces, winning 73 per cent of his first service points to advance in one hour and 38 minutes. Van Rijthoven is playing his first tournament of the season and will take on Peter Heller in the stage of the final four. Heller emerged victorious from the all-German-affair with Peter Torebko 7-6(5), 6-4.
Botic van de Zandschulp
Earlier in the day, Botic van de Zandschulp knocked off No. 5 seed Benjamin Hassan from Germany 6-3, 6-4. The 23-year-old from the Netherlands broke his opponent’s serve three times to seal victory in one hour and 18 minutes.
Van de Zandschulp will face Alexander Erler, who beat No. 8 seed Tobias Simon of Germany 6-4, 7-6(4). The 21-year-old Austrian outpointed his opponent 81-75 to prevail after one hour and 33 minutes.
In Saturday’s doubles final, Marek Gengel from the Czech Republic and Danylo Kalenichenko from the Ukraine will face the all Polish-duo of Karol Drzewicki and Szymon Walkow.
