Richard Veenstra has advanced to the second round of the European Darts Trophy with a 6-3 victory over Florian Hempel, but the Dutchman was far from satisfied with his performance. Veenstra admitted the match rarely reached a high level for long spells, with the pace not particularly high and big visits largely failing to materialize. He pinpointed the very last leg as the only time he threw his best darts, stating, "Only in the last leg. That was the best one."
Despite the inconsistent scoring, Veenstra highlighted his clinical finishing on doubles as a positive. He explained the challenge of transitioning from practice to the stage, noting, "It's always difficult on stage to get your rhythm. Behind the scenes everything feels fine, but when you're up there it's totally different." However, he remains confident in his game, saying, "I'm feeling good and confident. I played well the last time, and you could see that with my doubles — they were going in."
Next up for Veenstra is a second-round clash with Germany's Martin Schindler, an opponent proven on the European Tour. The atmosphere is expected to intensify, with around four thousand spectators present, many supporting the German. Veenstra, though, appears unfazed, remarking with a wink, "The Germans are always good for me." With the win secured and confidence in his doubles, Veenstra concluded optimistically, "That gives you confidence for tomorrow."
