Jesper de Jong was eliminated in the first round of the Libéma Open in Rosmalen on Tuesday. The only Dutchman in the men’s singles draw lost to American Reilly Opelka: 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5) and 2-6.
In the first set, both players held their six service games. However, this was usually much smoother for the towering Opelka (2.11 meters) than for De Jong. During this first set, there was an interruption of approximately 45 minutes after a heavy rain shower at 4-4.
After that, De Jong and Opelka picked up where they left off, until the necessary tiebreak. Initially, De Jong still had no answer to the American’s powerful serves and fell behind 5-2. But the Haarlemmer straightened his back, suddenly took five points in a row and still pulled the set towards him.
Opelka did not give in and used his first chance to break De Jong in the second set. The world number 87 seemed to have enough with that one break, but was surprised again. At 5-3, De Jong’s rebreak was a fact.
Eventually, the second set was also concluded with a tiebreak. De Jong made an unnecessary mistake on his own serve at 5-5. This time it was Opelka who won the tiebreak 7-5.
In the deciding set, De Jong had bad luck with a 1-1 score in his own service game. Opelka got a breakpoint and converted it with a ball through the net. He broke De Jong once more at 4-2 and was then able to serve out the match. He will face Chilean Nicolás Jarry in the next round.
Earlier in the day, Suzan Lamens reached the second round in the women’s tournament. Her match against Yanina Wickmayer had to be interrupted twice due to the turbulent weather in Rosmalen.
Due to all the rain showers, there was also no time for Anouk Koevermans’ match. Her match against the Greek Maria Sakkari has been moved to Wednesday.