The Netherlands are through to the Davis Cup final for the first time in their history after beating Germany 2-0 in Malaga.
Botic van de Zandschulp needed 10 match points before seeing off Daniel Altmaier in a dramatic opening rubber before Tallon Griekspoor came from a set down to beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the second. The Dutch team will face either favourites Italy or Australia in Sunday’s final.
Van de Zandschulp, who ended Rafael Nadal’s career on Tuesday as the Dutch beat Spain in the quarter-finals, had five match points in a marathon second-set tie-break and another five in the decider as he eventually won 6-4 6-7 (12) 6-3.
“I didn’t know what to do anymore on those match points,” Van de Zandschulp told the ATP website.
“I had the toughest match of my life on Tuesday, so everything that comes next is a little bit easier.”
Needing to win to force a deciding doubles contest, Struff took the first set against Griekspoor.
But the 28-year-old hit back to win 6-7 (4) 7-5 6-4 and secure a piece of Dutch sporting history.
“We have been talking about this (moment) for two or three years,” Griekspoor said.
“We came here all the time with unbelievably tough draws, but we believed in ourselves so much. We always felt like this was possible. To do it now feels unbelievable. I am so happy for the team, and for Holland.”
