Rune vs. van de Zandschulp: Prediction, Where to Watch
Holger Rune takes on Botic van de Zandschulp this afternoon in the 2025 U.S. Open first round on Grandstand court.
Rune comes into this tournament with heavy preparation, working with Andre Aggasi, who won two of his Grand Slam titles in Flushing.
The 22-year-old, ranked No. 9, began 2025 with a strong first-half performance, including an ATP 500 title in Barcelona, defeating Carlos Alcaraz, and reaching the Indian Wells final.
But Rune has been less consistent in the second half of this year — and has typically underperformed at the U.S. Open, with two consecutive first-round exits. He looks to avoid a repeat of those results this year.
Rune’s opponent this afternoon, Van de Zandschulp, is a seasoned Dutch campaigner, currently ranked at 73 but with a career-high ranking of 22.
He comes prepared, though perhaps not well rested, after a run to the Winston‑Salem final last week. In March, he stunned Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells and looks for another upset this afternoon.
Head-to-Head
Rune holds a 2–0 advantage over van de Zandschulp, winning their 2023 encounter in the Munich finals in a marathon deciding-set tiebreak victory.
Prediction
Rune in four, possibly five, sets. Rune’s offensive versatility and hard-court consistency give him the edge. But he is vulnerable due to the venue and the opponent, and may drop a set or two.
How to Watch Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Holger Rune
The Botic van de Zandschulp–Holger Rune match is expected to start at around 3:15 PM Eastern on Grandstand at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens.
Some of the match may air live on ESPN, as part of its whip-around coverage.
Dedicated match feeds are available to ESPN+ subscribers. A standalone ESPN+ subscription starts at $11.99/month.
Van de Zandschulp vs. Rune
Date: Monday, August 25, 2025
Expected Start Time: 3;15 PM Eastern
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, NY
Court: Grandstand
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and website, ESPN+ (dedicated coverage)