Of the four Dutchmen who were on the main schedule of the ATP tournament in Antwerp, only one is left. Tim van Rijthoven and Jesper de Jong lost their match in the first round on Tuesday.

Tallon’s Greek track went down on Monday, leaving Botic van de Zandschulp the only Dutchman in the tournament. This afternoon he will play his first game.

It was the first time since Indian Wells in 2004 that four compatriots were in the main program of an ATP tournament outside of the Netherlands (not counting Grand Slams). Then they were Martin Verkerk, John van Lottum, Sjeng Schalken and Raemon Sluiter.

Van Rijthoven gets the first set

25-year-old Van Rijthoven lost to Jaume Munar after around three hours of play in Antwerp. It went 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4). Van Rijthoven served well in the first set, hitting ten aces in total, but Munar’s service was good too.

The set had to be decided in the tie-break. A sloppy Van Rijthoven missed a 5-1 lead but world No. 113 was back on time.

Munar (ATP-55) recovered, Van Rijthoven broke immediately and won set two without too much trouble. The Dutchman started the third set well. He immediately broke Munar and held the game up 5-3. He put that behind him, whereupon he ducked into his towel. He then gave up the game completely.

De Jong also below

World No. 225 De Jong offered Constant Lestienne a good match but went down 3-6, 4-6. The Dutchman was the outsider beforehand, his opponent is 156 places higher in the world rankings. Nevertheless, he got along well.

De Jong won his own service with ease, save for one. A broken love in the sixth game was fatal. In the fifth game of set two, the 22-year-old Dutchman cleared six break points. However, he lost at number seven.

He brought the Frenchman back but also gave up his next serve. Lestienne finished it off with his first match point.