Botic van de Zandschulp sealed a spot in the Winston-Salem Open final on Friday after two swift wins in a single day. The Dutchman, 29, outlasted China’s Yunchaokete Bu 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the quarterfinals, then returned to the court later to defeat France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the championship match.
Van de Zandschulp acknowledged the tough turnaround but was pleased with how he handled both tests. “It was a pretty quick two hours [between matches] but I think I managed well tonight,” he said after the win.
This semifinal victory put Van de Zandschulp in an ATP final for only the third time in his career. His previous finals both came on clay in Munich, where he faced Holger Rune and came up short on both occasions. In 2022, he retired in the final due to a fitness issue with the score at 3-4, and in 2023 he lost a three-set marathon 6-4, 1-6, 7-6. He credited a strong serve as a key factor in his win over Perricard, noting that holding serve is crucial in a match where even a single break can decide a set.
Van de Zandschulp’s opponent in the final will be Marton Fucsovics of Hungary. Fucsovics reached the title match after Sebastian Korda withdrew from the semifinal due to illness, allowing the 33-year-old to advance by walkover. Korda revealed on X that he woke up unwell and chose to withdraw to stay on track with his rehabilitation after a lengthy injury layoff. This will be Fucsovics’s fifth ATP final, with two prior titles to his name and a recent final appearance in Bucharest last year, where he beat Mariano Navone in straight sets (6-4, 7-5).
The head-to-head history between Van de Zandschulp and Fucsovics now stands at a close 2-1 in favor of Van de Zandschulp. Their most recent clash came at the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2023, where Van de Zandschulp won 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. Fucsovics’s lone win against him came in 2022 in Adelaide, in a match that finished 6-3, 7-6.
Double Duty Complete, indeed. Van de Zandschulp will look to cap a two-year wait for an ATP title run with a strong performance in the final, which would also provide a meaningful momentum boost for his season.
What to watch for:
– Van de Zandschulp’s serve will be under the spotlight again; maintaining serve will be essential given the danger on the return from opponents.
– The final offers the chance for a long-awaited breakthrough ATP title appearance, adding a notable chapter to his career.
– A potential ranking lift could follow a positive result in North American hard-court events, building confidence for the rest of the season.
Summary: Van de Zandschulp followed up a capable quarterfinal win with a strong semifinal performance to reach the Winston-Salem Open final, where he will meet Marton Fucsovics after a walkover in the other semi. His recent form continues to suggest he’s rediscovering the consistency needed to compete for titles again.