NETHERLANDS is through to its first ever Davis Cup final after defeating Germany 2-0 in a couple of tight three-set singles matches to reach the decider. The Dutch pair of Tallon Griekspoor and Botic Van de Zandschulp fought past German duo Jan-Lennard Struff and Daniel Altmaier to set up a grand finale against one of last year’s finalists, either Italy or Australia.

Despite having a fairly strong side for a number of years, Netherlands has fallen at the quarter finals stage of the tournament the past two seasons. Prior to that, the Dutch had not reached the final eight since 2005, but with the adaptation of the new round-robin style, Netherlands has made the knockout phase in its past three years, and is now through to the decider.

In the opening match of the tie in Malaga against the Germans, Van de Zandschulp overcame Altmaier in a grinding three-set contest, 6-4 6-7 6-3 which included going down in a 14-12 second set tiebreaker. Griekspoor did not have it any easier in the second match, having to come from a set down to see off Struff, 6-7 7-5 6-4 to secure the victory for the Dutch.

The win meant Netherlands now have an extra day’s rest before taking on either reigning champions Italy or last year’s runner-up Australia in the final, both of whom will be favourites against the Dutch. While on the easier side of the Davis Cup finals draw, the Dutch still managed to overcome a fierce Spanish outfit at home, before ending what would have been a gallant German run without their top ranked player, Alexander Zverev.

Van de Zandschulp survived 16 aces off Altmaier’s racquet, while hitting seven more winners (28-21), and only three more unforced errors (33-30) in a titanic struggle between the pair. Griekspoor surprisingly out-served the powerful Struff, putting down a whopping 25 aces throughout the two-hour and one-minute match to the German’s 13, while only committing 17 unforced errors, and the same amount of winners.

Netherlands captain Paul Haarhuis said it was a historic moment for the nation to reach its first ever Davis Cup final.

“For me it means a lot, I’m goint to be a finalist for the first time ever in Davis Cup!” he said. “To be part of this team who have played so well the last five years. “Of course it’s especially unique that we do it as we don’t have that top five or top 10 player. “This year we felt like it was time for us to move on past those quarter finals.”

No doubt a daunting task against one of the top two nations in the world, Haarhuis said the fifth ranked Dutch side would come out determined to fight until the end.

“We’ve played so well, the guys are getting a lot of confidence from these wins,” he said. “The other teams are strong. “I think we’re going to have to come out with – excuse my language – big balls on Sunday. “It’s our time.”