Netherlands secure historic hat-trick at 2021 BNP Paribas World Team Cup
Netherlands have secured a historic hat-trick of BNP Paribas World Team Cup titles by winning the men’s, women’s and quad titles at the ITF’s flagship tennis team event in Sardinia. Japan also clinched a first World Team Cup junior title.
The Dutch quad and women’s teams both secured their trophies on Saturday, with Sam Schroder and Niels Vink wrapping up the quad title with victory over USA while the women, led by Diede de Groot and Aniek van Koot, defeated Japan. The men’s team faced maiden World Team Cup finalists Spain on Sunday, hoping to win their first men’s title in 10 years and secure the historic victory for their nation.
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Tom Egberink, who was part of the Dutch men’s team for their last World Team Cup success in 2011, wrapped up the 2-0 win with a 3-set victory over Spain’s Martin de la Puente after team-mate Ruben Spaargaren, who was also severely tested by Daniel Caverzaschi, had given Netherlands the lead in the first match of the final.
While Netherlands became the first nation to win the three BNP Paribas World Team Cup men’s, women’s and quad senior titles in the same year, Japan’s first World Team Cup junior title saw them join the select group of nations to have won three of the four titles contested at the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event after beating top seeds Great Britain 2-1. Teams from 23 nations were represented at the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event, and full coverage can be found at itftennis.com
