Yahoo SportTennis world in disbelief over wildcard's insane feat': 'Uniquely nuts'
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- Daniil MedvedevRussian male tennis player
- Taylor FritzAmerican tennis player
The tennis world has watched on in awe as World No.205 Tim Rijthoven capped off a fairytale run to defeated World No.2 Daniil Medvedev in the 's-Hertogenbosch final.
Rijthoven had never won a challenger event or an ATP Tour level match until this week, which saw him reach the final against Medvedev.
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And in remarkable scenes, Rijthoven outplayed the soon-to-be World No.1 6-4, 6-1 to lift his maiden ATP trophy.
The Dutch player knocked out third seed Taylor Fritz and second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event before the final.
And he was able to defeat Russia's Medvedev in 65 minutes.
Rijthoven made his ATP debut in 2016, but hadn't played a main draw match until this week.
After his victory, Rijthoven stormed into the stands to celebrate with his mother who was watching on in beautiful scenes.
The tennis world shared Medvedev's astonishment after Rijthoven's stunning run.
"First time in an ATP final and you destroy the number 2 in the world" 🤣
Medvedev congratulates @timvanrijthoven on his unbelievable week!@LibemaOpen pic.twitter.com/h1as9t3Lob— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 12, 2022
Simply… incredible.
25yo Tim Van Rijthoven, a very good junior who never won a *challenger* in his career, completes a fairytale week in Rosmalen beating Daniil Medvedev, new #1 tomorrow, 6-4, 6-1 to win a first ATP title.
Had zero ATP wins before this week.
Wimbledon WC? pic.twitter.com/STAnal9WNZ— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 12, 2022
One of the most incredible fairytale runs ever at an ATP tournament for 205th-ranked Tim van Rijthoven, whom I'm pretty sure I had never heard of before this week. https://t.co/iD3IkCPnyH
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 12, 2022
Aware of Challengers, thanks. This guy has never even won one of them and now he just beat the soon-#1 to win an ATP. Pretty uniquely nuts.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 12, 2022
Tim Van Rijthoven made his ATP Tour debut as a lucky loser at Winston-Salem in 2016.
He lost to Jiri Vesely.
He didn’t play another ATP Tour level match until this week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
He’s just won the title!
Beaten Fritz, Auger-Aliassime & Medvedev 6-4 6-1!
It’s wild!— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 12, 2022
Daniil Medvedev stunned after finals loss
The 25-year-old broke Medvedev four times and when the Russian's return on championship point hit the net, he sank to the grass turf as the home crowd cheered their first Dutch champion on home soil in 19 years.
Medvedev was just as stunned after the match and paid the wildcard a huge compliment.
"First time in an ATP tournament and straight away you destroy the number two in the world in straight sets in the final," Medvedev said with a smile.
"Must be a good feeling."
Rijthoven is the lowest ranked man to have won an ATP title in more than a year.
The 24-year-old finished the tournament with the most aces, having surprised most of his opponents with his booming serve.
with AAP
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