Overview

• Van de Velde served 13 months in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19.
• He faced boos and jeers during matches, impacting his performance.
• Despite considering quitting, van de Velde competed and reached the quarter-finals.
• Criticism included calls for his ban by victim support groups and the public.
• Van de Velde expressed regret and acknowledged the lasting consequences of his actions.