Libema Open Finals LIVE: Tim van Rijthoven earned one of his biggest victories of his career as he defeated World No.2 Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to win the ATP 250 Libema Open title. This is the 25-year old’s second ATP tour and by winning the title by defeating a player like Medvedev, he has stunned the Tennis world. Follow Libema Open 2022 updates on InsideSport.IN
Libema Open Finals LIVE: Tim van Rijthoven upsets World No.2 Daniil Medvedev, wins dream final in Libema Open
FROM WILD CARD TO CHAMPION‼️🏆@timvanrijthoven takes the title against Medvedev 6-4, 6-1. @libemaopen | #LibemaOpen pic.twitter.com/p5mHso3Bt2
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 12, 2022
The Dutch wild card was playing in a maiden championship match on just his second appearance in a tour-level main draw. However, he showed no sign of nerves in front of an ecstatic home crowd on his way to a 65-minute victory over a player who will reclaim the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings on Monday.
“This is new for me, it’s going to take some time getting used to,” said Van Rijthoven, who had not won a tour-level match prior to this week, in his on-court interview. “What a dream this week. I would like to thank my team for staying humble this week, doing the normal things, not making this thing any bigger than it was. I would like to thank all of you,” added Van Rijthoven when addressing the crowd. “Your support was incredible this week.”
As well as Medvedev, Van Rijthoven beat Matthew Ebden, Taylor Fritz, Hugo Gaston and Felix Auger-Aliassime in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to become the first Dutchman to win the ATP 250 event since Sjeng Schalken in 2003.
Van Rijthoven enjoyed a bright start to his maiden tour-level meeting with Medvedev, breaking the World No. 2 in the second game to move ahead early. He was pegged back immediately by the top seed, however who restored parity at 2-2 with a break of his own.
The opening set seemed destined for a tie-break when Van Rijthoven struck again for a crucial break in the 10th game, converting his first break point on the Medvedev serve to clinch it 6-4. That proved a decisive moment in the match as the wild card’s momentum took him to an unassailable 5-0 lead with a double break in the second set. The 25-year-old served out for the title in style, holding to love to become the lowest-ranked tour-level titlist of 2022.
The defeat means Medvedev remains trophy-less for 2022, but the 26-year-old will nonetheless be heartened by his run in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, which culminated in his first tour-level championship match appearance since the Australian Open in January.
Van Rijthoven’s run in ‘s-Hertogenbosch is set to propel the Dutchman up 99 places to a career-high No. 106 in Monday’s update of the ATP Rankings.
Libema Open Finals LIVE: Tim van Rijthoven upsets World No.2 Daniil Medvedev, wins dream final in Libema Open
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