WILLEMSTAD — If Jean-Julien Rojer plays for The Netherlands in the Davis Cup duel with Finland during the weekend of February 10^th-12^th it’ll mean he has definitely become a tennis player for The Netherlands. From that moment, ‘NED’ will be placed after his name when he plays tennis at other international competitions. Starting next weekend, he will no longer play tennis under the flag of Curaçao."It’s a pity, but it’s the right decision”, said Royer’s Curaçao spokesperson, Francis Hoyer. “Jean-Julien is certainly aware of this and he has thought hard about it. He finds it painful but he has no other option. It is his choice as sportsman, not as person. Even though ‘NED’ will soon be placed after his name, Jean-Julien will always remain a good ambassador for Curaçao, because it has a special place in his heart; the choice for The Netherlands was a rational one.”

Apart from playing for The Netherlands in the Davis Cup, Royer also hopes to make it to the Olympic Games in London this summer as tennis player for The Netherlands. It’s possible he could play double with Haase, with the aim to win a medal of course.

If Royer decides to change his mind and play under the Curaçao flag again, he will have to make that choice before the end of the year, said Hoyer. “If I’m right, it will be three years before he can play tennis under the Curaçao flag, at least according to the general rules. That Jean-Julien can immediately switch to The Netherlands now is related to the exceptional circumstances that the Netherlands Antilles were dismantled. At the time, the IOC decided that sportsmen/women, who had played under the flag of the Antilles, were to make an immediate choice in playing for The Netherlands or Aruba. If they chose not to, they could only play for the coming Games under the Olympic flag.”

Hoyer emphasized this was a difficult choice for his pupil. “However, sometimes you have to make choices that conflict with your feelings, and certainly when it regards top-class sport.”

Ambition

Chairman Roy Bottse of the Curaçao tennis league (CLTB) can understand Jean-Julien Rojer’s choice. “He had to do this. Jean-Julien belongs to the absolute world top in tennis. He really wants to play at the highest level at David Cup; he wants to participate with the Olympic Games, which is understandable. A top-class sportsman must have this ambition otherwise he shouldn’t call himself a top-class sportsman. That’s the mentality of a top-class sportsman and that’s what Jean-Julien Rojer is. Moreover, let’s be honest, the Curaçao tennis has nothing to offer him. For example, suppose Jean-Julien would participate with the Olympic Games under the Curaçao flag. He’ll need a double partner who has gained an x-number of points on the ATP-list. After all, these are the qualification requirements for the Games. However, we don’t have a partner for Jean-Julian; someone who is on the ATP-list or for that matter has sufficient points. All things considered, Jean-Julian couldn’t play at the Games under the Curaçao flag because there is no double partner who complies with the qualification requirements. That’s what I meant with ‘we have nothing to offer him’.”

On the other hand of course, Bottse regrets that Curaçao will ‘lose’ a great player and a fantastic ambassador this way. As sports manager and nationalist, I must say it’s a pity. “Nevertheless, as sportsman, I understand completely. As a former athlete, I also had to make that choice, so I know from personal experience that it’s a painful choice. Nevertheless, Jean-Julien Rojer’s choice is a logic one of course. One could even say it’s a ‘good Kingdom performance’. In itself, there’s nothing wrong with this. Therefore, we will continue to support Jean-Julian because I have no doubt he supports us. We’re not losing him as an ambassador; only the three letters after his name in the newspaper will change.”

Rojer and Haase lose debut

Jean-Julien Rojer and Robin Haase weren’t able to celebrate their victory after the double play in the tennis tournament of Zagreb. The duo, formed specifically for the Davis Cup, lost their debut Wednesday evening from favorites Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya. The first placed Austrians won in two sets: 6-3 6-4 in the Croatian capital city. Melzer and Peya are named 13^th respectively 19^th place on the ATP-list for the doubles. Rojers is placed 32^nd now and Haase 97^th.