‘Iceman’ could be an apt description for one of the fastest rising players in tennis last year, Botic van de Zandschulp.
The Dutchman rarely displays emotion, even if he admits to routinely boiling over internally.
“I look calm most of the time but inside I’m pretty (annoyed) most of the time,” he said with a wry smile. “But better not to show it on court.”
His results are nothing to get angry about.
Van de Zandschulp is set to reach a new career high of about No.52 even if he loses in the third round against the highest seed in the draw, Daniil Medvedev, at Australian Open 2022.
MORE: Men's singles results AO 2022
The 26-year-old began 2021 at No.156, contesting qualifying at each of the four Grand Slams. He reached the main draw every time, once as a lucky loser at Wimbledon.
Telling the ATP he only really thought of becoming a pro at 16 or 17, it’s no surprise that his breakthrough came a little later than others.
At Melbourne Park last February, van de Zandschulp faced none other than teen phenom Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 128 in his Grand Slam debut when both were ranked outside the top 140. It followed a two-week quarantine.
But the right-hander’s performance at the US Open truly drew the attention of the tennis world, his easy power, court coverage and resilience on full display.
Van de Zandschulp overturned a first-set deficit in his first six matches – including qualifying – before defeating shot-making roadrunner Diego Schwartzman of Argentina in five sets in front of a raucous crowd.
He initially squandered two match points in the fourth set, recovering in the fifth at Louis Armstrong Stadium to become the third men’s qualifier in tournament history to land in the quarterfinals.
That day won’t soon be forgotten.
“It was a rainy day, so in the beginning, we played with the roof closed because they were afraid it was going to rain,” said Van de Zandschulp. “And they started the matches on the outside courts.
But after the rain “everybody came into Louis Armstrong. So the whole stadium was packed and a lot of South American people were cheering for Diego,” he added. “They stayed until the fifth set and the atmosphere was incredible.”
Medvedev eventually ended van de Zandschulp’s stay in New York with a 6-3 6-0 4-6 7-5 victory but the native of Wageningen – 80km south-east of Amsterdam – nabbed the only set off the Russian the entire fortnight.
He even prevailed in a 40-shot rally, the second longest exchange in the men’s event. Not many do that against Medvedev.
“The third and fourth sets were really tough,” Medvedev told reporters in New York. "He played top level, served really big.”
Keen to prove he was no fluke, van de Zandschulp especially enjoyed reaching the semifinals in St. Petersburg and earning a maiden top-10 scalp over Medvedev’s good friend, Andrey Rublev.
He won’t be as fatigued ahead of his challenge against the World No.2 on Saturday, given a pair of less than taxing outings heading in.
Van de Zandschulp beat Jan Lennard Struff in straight sets in the first round and played less than three full sets in the second. His more experienced opponent, Richard Gasquet with van de Zandschulp leading 4-6 6-0 4-0 on Thursday.
“I’m looking forward to the match,” said van de Zandschulp, who along with last year’s Challenger king, Tallon Griekspoor, have given the Dutch two top 100 men’s players for the first time since 2016. “At the US Open I had so many hours on the court. It was my eighth match of the tournament so I was a bit exhausted.
“I never played a guy who was on his level, so the first two sets were also a bit of a change for me. The third I started to play much better and I got used to the level. I played a good third and fourth set. Hopefully I can start good in the first set.
“I’m happy that I can play him again and I feel physically 100 percent."
MORE: Men's singles draw AO 2022
His mum Ingrid, a tennis player herself, figures to be glued to the TV back home.
“My mother started watching since the US Open,” he said. “Before she never watched. She gets too nervous.”