Rising Dutch Sensation Jesper de Jong Stuns Tennis World with Breakthrough Victory – Highlights & Next Match Details

Jesper de Jong is suddenly the name every tennis fan is Googling as the Dutch qualifier prepares for the biggest match of his young career: a US Open first-round showdown with No. 30 seed Brandon Nakashima in New York. Ranked a career-high No. 79 on the ATP Tour after a strong summer swing, the 24-year-old from Haarlem has powered through three qualifying wins at Flushing Meadows and is now eyeing a statement upset on Arthur Ashe Stadium. A breakout year for Dutch tennis De Jong’s surge marks the first time since Robin Haase in 2017 that a Dutchman has cracked the top 80. He kicked off 2025 by reaching the semifinals in Pune, followed by quarter-final runs in Doha and Marrakech, showcasing a newly reliable first serve that regularly touches 125 mph. His 16-18 tour-level record may look modest, but it hides an 11-5 mark on outdoor hard courts—exactly the surface awaiting him in Queens. Road to the US Open main draw In qualifying last week, De Jong swept aside Harold Mayot, Emilio Nava and Shang Juncheng without dropping a set, winning an eye-catching 78 percent of first-serve points and breaking serve 13 times. Those numbers underline why oddsmakers have slashed his price from +600 to +325 for the Nakashima encounter, even though the American enjoys home-court advantage. Scouting the matchup: De Jong vs Nakashima Nakashima, famed for textbook timing off both wings, is vulnerable when opponents knock him off the baseline with varied pace. De Jong’s heavy forehand and frequent net forays—he averages 14 serve-and-volley attempts per match—could do exactly that. In their only previous meeting, a 2023 Challenger in Las Vegas, De Jong edged the American in a third-set tie-break, proving he can handle Nakashima’s compact style under pressure. Keys to an upset • First-serve percentage: De Jong has hit 63 percent first balls during qualifying; anything above 60 percent keeps quick points on his racket. • Return aggression: Nakashima wins 72 percent of first-serve points when he dictates rallies early; De Jong must attack second serves and shorten exchanges. • Crowd management: Prime-time Ashe crowds tilt heavily American, but the Dutchman’s animated fist-pumps have already won neutral fans in qualifiers. How to watch The De Jong-Nakashima clash is slated for Day 1 (Monday, 25 August) on ESPN, Tennis Channel and streaming via ESPN+ in the U.S., with global coverage on Eurosport and the official US Open app. What’s next for Jesper de Jong? Win or lose, De Jong’s ranking is projected to rise to at least No. 72 after New York, securing direct entry into autumn ATP 250 events in Astana and Stockholm. With Dutch tennis legend Richard Krajicek already praising his “fearless” court craft, expect to hear the name De Jong echo far beyond this week in Queens. Search engines are lighting up with queries like “Jesper de Jong tennis ranking,” “De Jong vs Nakashima live,” and “Dutch tennis rising star.” If he adds one more upset to his 2025 résumé, Jesper de Jong may soon trade the tag of qualifier for household name.