Hey there, tennis fans! 🎾 Let’s dive into some exciting matches from the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam!
Zhang Zhizhen vs. Andrey Rublev
In the men’s singles first round, China’s Zhang Zhizhen faced off against Russia’s fourth seed, Andrey Rublev. It was a tough match for Zhang, as Rublev won 6-3, 6-4. Zhang has played against Rublev three times before and lost each time, so he was hoping to turn things around.
In the first set, Rublev broke Zhang’s serve in the fourth game. But Zhang didn’t give up! When he was down 2-5, he saved six set points in a row, which means he kept the game going even when Rublev was close to winning the set. That’s impressive! 💪 However, Rublev managed to win the next game and took the first set.
In the second set, Rublev broke Zhang’s serve early again. He held onto his lead by winning his own service games, which made it hard for Zhang to catch up. Even though Zhang tried his best and saved four match points in the final game, he couldn’t change the outcome.
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
On the same day, top seed Carlos Alcaraz from Spain played against Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands. It was a thrilling match! Alcaraz won 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1, getting revenge for his loss to van de Zandschulp at the U.S. Open last year.
Alcaraz wasn’t at his best at the start. He made 40 unforced errors in the first two sets—that’s when a player makes mistakes without the other player forcing them. Van de Zandschulp also had some trouble, hitting eight double faults, which are mistakes made during serving. But he played smartly, using strong baseline shots and moving up to the net to win the second set.
In the final set, Alcaraz found his rhythm and wowed everyone with some amazing shots! He won the set and the match. After the game, Alcaraz said, “There were a lot of ups and downs in the match. I’m just really happy to get through. I had to stay focused and trust that my good tennis would come again.”
What We Can Learn
These matches show how exciting and unpredictable tennis can be. Even when things are tough, players like Zhang and Alcaraz keep trying their best. So, whether you’re a tennis player or just love sports, remember to stay determined and enjoy the game! 🎾
Reference(s):
Zhang Zhizhen loses to Andre Rublev in first round at ABN AMRO Open
cgtn.com
