The sun set on the first week of The Siemen’s Open 2010 at the Mets Tennisbannen in Scheveningen and it was smiles all round.

In an exciting match between much-talked-about Pablo Cuevas of Uruquay and our very own Dutchie Jasper Smit, Holland again came out as sporting champion.

Jasper Smit, the Dutch hero surprised everyone, including himself, with his victory over Cuevas.

Cuevas, the currently ranked world number 62 stepped onto the court confidently and went on to deliver a succession of superb serves, which along with quick footing put him comfortably 1 set up to begin with.

Pablo Cuevas, the tournaments' top seeded player from Uruguay.

But Smit had so much more to give and fought back admirably; he regained control and managed to topple Cueavas with some fast forehands. In an exclusive interview with TheHagueOnLine after the match, Smit admitted, “If he hadn’t missed those four forehands I may not have won.”

Smit whose last international tournament was over half a year ago, said he owed a lot to his ‘nothing to loose’ mentality. Throughout the match he remained calm and collected and fought off every one of Cuevas’ points as best he could. Cuevas however, who received an official warning from the umpire when hitting the ball over the roof, appeared to be waning under the pressure.

As the match closed in and the tie break approached Smit said he could only think one point at a time. This served him well and he went on to win in a thrilling and unpredictable tie break.

The win is obviously a huge triumph for Smit, but it seems not enough to bring him back into the international playground, for now he intends to continue “playing for fun”.

Words: Claire Ijsbrandij

Images: Neal McClimon

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