At the start of the year life on the ATP Tour looked very different for Tim van Rijthoven.
The Dutchman was yet to break inside the world’s top 200, play in the main draw of a major and he predominantly featured on the lower-level Challenger Tour. However, that all changed when he embarked on this year’s grasscourt swing. After losing in the opening round of qualifying at the Surbiton qualifying to a player ranked No.375, Rijthoven received a wild card to play s-Hertogenbosch which has sensationally transformed his career.
Unknown to many in the draw, he stunned the likes of Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime en route to the final. Standing in his way of a maiden title was world No.1 Daniil Medvedev who he impressively disposed of in straight sets with relative ease. It was a fairytale journey but was it a one-off?
“I actually played a very good match in Surbiton. My opponent was also just playing very well. It was a close match. I think I lost 7-5 in the third set, but could have gone either way. So I wasn’t too sad about that.” Rijthoven said during his press conference.
“My mindset stayed the same. Just kept doing my thing. Obviously in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, it’s my home country, so there’s a lot of positive vibes there which maybe helped me also to gain the title.”
Rijthoven is once again making waves on the Tour but this time at Wimbledon. Receiving another wild card into the event, he continues to show his potential. On Friday he disposed of 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the fourth round on his Grand Slam debut. Becoming only the seventh male player to do so since 2000. Even more remarkable is that Wimbledon is only the third grass-court event at Tour-level he has played in his entire career.
“It was not like any other match. I think he’s a very streaky player. Can play very well at times, can also make some mistakes at times,” the world No.104 commented on his latest win.
“For me it was just about keeping the ball in play and making him play a lot of shots, giving him a chance to miss basically.”
Rijthoven’s breakthrough has been a long time coming. As a junior, he achieved a ranking high of No.13 and reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 Wimbledon boy’s tournament before losing to Noah Rubin. However, as a pro, he was hampered by injury issues over a period lasting roughly three years. Besides surgery on an artery and his wrist, he was also troubled by a condition called golfer’s elbow for nine months.
“I’ve had my ups and downs, injuries here and there. I’ve also struggled mentally. I’m just happy to be in the place I am right now. I hope to be there for a couple more years, or a lot more years actually.” he said.
The man in charge of mentoring the rising star is Igor Sijsling, who still has an active ATP ranking of 549. He is a former top 40 player who reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2013. The two have been working together since the start of this year.
Rijthoven is now on an eight-match winning streak since making his Tour debut but could face his toughest challenge next should Novak Djokovic come through his third round encounter. The Serbian is seeking his seventh Wimbledon title and fourth in a row.
“Before the tournament started, it was a dream for me to play him,” he said of Djokovic. “To be able to have that chance and to maybe even play on Center Court or Court 1 is beautiful and magical.”
“I go into every match thinking I can win. Also against Djokovic I’ll go into that match thinking I can win.”
Should Rijthoven play and beat Djokovic, he will be only the second player ranked outside the top 100 to do so this year after Jiri Vesely.
