Botik van der Zandschulp, proven giant-killer Novak Djokovic shock at Australian Open | ATP Tour

ATP Tour

Van de Zandschulp, acknowledged giant-killer, stunned by Djokovic at Australian Open

Dutchman discusses great pedigree against Djokovic on Saturday

January 23, 2026

Displacing the sport’s elite is never easy, but Botik van der Zandschulp has shown time and time again that he has the belief and game to cause trouble for the best on the biggest stages.

The 30-year-old Dutchman will look to tap into that giant-killing pedigree again when he takes on record 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in his third-round match at Melbourne Park on Saturday. It’s a tall order, but one that’s no stranger to van der Zandshulp, who has beaten ATP No. 1 club members Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal over the past two years, and more recently, Djokovic himself.

“It’s always nice to play against one of the best. It’s also a good match and I know I can play well in it and I’ve proven that in the past,” van der Zande Schulp told ATPTour.com in Melbourne. “I know what I’m capable of… when you see those names in the draw, it gives you a confidence boost. Of course you get scared, but as the game went on, when I got into some games, I felt like I could beat a lot of players.

“A game like this against Novak, if you can enjoy it, it’s a really good moment.”

Van de Zandschulp prevailed in his most recent Lexus ATP head-to-head match against Djokovic in Indian Wells last year, a match he remembers well. The Dutchman entered the main draw as the lucky loser, but his clinical performance in the decider upset his opponent.

“I didn’t feel good at the time, but now I feel better tennis-wise,” van der Zande Schulp said, reflecting on the Indian Wells match. “Hopefully it helps me… In Australia it’s one of his favorite games, one of his favorite courses, so it’s going to be a different test. He’s struggling there. [in Indian Wells]. The conditions were tough: very hot, very bouncy. “

Djokovic is far from the only superstar Van der Zandschulp has been tested and toppled in recent seasons. He defeated Alcaraz in the second round of the 2024 US Open and two months later ended Nadal’s storied career in the Davis Cup final.

Each victory provided a different form of validation, reinforcing not only his ability to compete with the sport’s elite, but also his ability to dominate the moment and occasion.

“It’s not easy to beat Alcaraz in five sets, but to beat him 3-0 before going on the court was something I couldn’t have imagined,” van der Zandschulp said. “[Beating] Rafa is also special because in tennis you rarely know who you’re going to play a month in advance.

“I found out it was going to be his last game and we were playing Spain in the quarter-finals. If he was going to play, I would be the one playing against him, so I thought a lot about the game and usually you don’t have time. That was the toughest game for me mentally.”

Rafael Nadal, Botic van der Zansulp” style=”width:100%;” src=”

When van der Zande Schulp takes to the Rod Laver Arena this weekend, it will mark his third consecutive year competing on the iconic stage. He has lost in the first round to Yannick Sinner and Alex De Minaur in the past two hard-court majors. While these experiences were traumatic, they also removed the novelty of the occasion.

Now, the Dutchman is back in the third round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2022, having dropped just one set on the way after defeating 27th seeds Brendan Nakajima and Shang Juncheng.

“I’m very happy about it. It’s been a while since I won a race here,” said Van der Zand Schulp. “The last two years I had some tough draws with Sinner and De Minaur in the first round. But I played some good tennis again – I started the season pretty well.

“Fortunately, I’ve already played there. [Rod Laver Arena] While this is nothing new, it remains a huge challenge. “

Part of this newfound confidence can be traced to a more stable offseason — something that has been rare in recent years. With the Davis Cup competition running until November, Van de Zandschulp often has limited time to recuperate physically and mentally.

“The past few years we’ve played the Davis Cup in November, so the off-season has been very tough, very busy,” he added. “Now I’ve had three weeks off and five weeks of training, so I think it’s been really good for me, especially mentally, to be at home a little bit longer. I’ve really enjoyed my offseason and have started a new life.”

Facing Djokovic on the stage where Djokovic has won the most honors, Van der Zandschulp will once again appear as the loser. Yet history shows he knows how to handle the role.