By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday June 12, 2022
World No.205 Tim Van Rijthoven stormed past Daniil Medvedev to lock up a remarkable title run on home soil.
If you can dream it, you can do it.
25-year-old Dutchman Tim Van Rijthoven had never won an ATP main draw match prior to this week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. In fact, he had not even played a main draw match since 2016, but the World No.205 soared to the title on Sunday, completing a title run for the ages by toppling top-seeded Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-1.
Rijthoven defeated three top-20 players (also No.14 Taylor Fritz and No.9 Felix Auger-Aliassime) en route to becoming the first Dutch champion at the Libema Open since Sjeng Schalken in 2003.
Medvedev, who played poorly in the final, particularly in the second set, summed up the sudden rise of his opponent aptly.
“Amazing week,” he told Van Rijthoven on court. “First time in an ATP tournament and straightaway you destroy the number two in the world in straight sets in the final, So I think it must be a good feeling – I don't know how it feels so must be a good feeling.
“Amazing match today, probably amazing matches before also, I mean congrats and keep it going. I Remember you from juniors, you have the talent so now you need to make more matches like this and more tournaments like this, congrats to you and your team.”
The 25-year-old Dutchman only missed 11 first serves on the afternoon, and dropped just nine points behind his serve as he dominated Medvedev in the 65-minute contest.
He broke serve four times on ten opportunities and pulled away in the final set to complete one of the most surprising title runs in recent memory.
“I'd like to show my huge respect to Daniil,” he said after the final. “I mean, you're a great player. I've watched you on TV many times. And now to play you myself. I mean, for it was already a dream to play you and to be playing this well against you was just amazing. So yeah, it was an honor for me to share the court with you. And you're for sure gonna win many more titles. I'll see you hopefully in the future more times on court.
“Yeah, that's about it. I hope I see you next year. And maybe in the same spot – we'll see.”