NIJMAN EYES TOP 16 AFTER PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 10 WIN
14/04/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
WESSEL NIJMAN is a step closer to breaking into the top 16 after winning Players Championship 10.
The Dutchman clinched his FOURTH title of the season and the £15,000 top prize at the Robin Park Tennis Centre after beating Scott Waites 8-2 in the final.
“Scotty 2 Hotty” proved the surprise package, reaching his maiden ProTour final after qualifying via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit following player withdrawals
World No.19 Nijman defeated Luke Woodhouse 7-4 in the semi-final with a cracking 108.46 average, having earlier dispatched Beau Greaves 6-2 in the last eight with a monstrous 109.71 average.
Nijman said: “I am feeling really good. Today was the best floor event I played all year because I hit so many averages above 105.
“It was a really good day. It wasn’t the final we were all hoping for, but I am very happy with it.
“He had nothing to lose. When I got into my first ProTour final, I didn’t have anything to lose.
“I was a bit nervous back then but played more freely because I had nothing to lose.
“These kinds of events suit me. Yesterday wasn’t the best day because I lost early.
“But when I am in the zone and playing well, I can play all day long like that.
“That is what I did today.”
Nijman sits firmly top of the ProTour Order of Merit with £219,250 in earnings, more than £50,000 clear of second-placed Chris Dobey.
Nijman is on course for a top-16 breakthrough and is looking to sharpen his Euro Tour form after back-to-back early exits.
He added: “That was the goal for this whole year — the earlier I get that, the better it gets.
“I was confident for the last two Euro Tour events but I lost in Munich and Wieze in the first rounds.
“It was a bit disappointing, but I hope I do better in Sindelfingen this week.”
Elsewhere, Luke Humphries suffered a huge exit after being dumped out in the first round losing 6-4 to Christian Kist.
Stephen Bunting exited in the last 32 after a 6–4 defeat to Joe Hunt, who also knocked out Josh Rock in the last 16.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
