ATP Challenger tournament in Biel. Home game for Dominic Stricker. Before the 19-year-old intervenes in the tournament, he met Blick for an interview on Tuesday. The young Berner wants to sit down, but a young girl approaches, shyly asking for a photo with the tennis hope. Stricker – quite a pro – stands up and grants the girl’s wish.
Blick: Dominic Stricker, you are getting more and more attention.
Dominic Stricker: Yes, lately it has not decreased. But it’s also cool and part of it. But I didn’t think it would turn out like this. It’s not that much yet, but it also happens that people approach me at a YB match, for example.
When did it increase?
I would say that one point in time was my double victory in Gstaad. That’s pretty much gotten around the world. From then on it certainly grew in the canton of Bern. The Sport Panorama appearance has recently given a boost.
Do you also notice an increase in messages on social media?
Yes, it’s not getting any less there either (laughs). But I’m happy when people write congratulations.
With the greater attention, you can also earn more through sponsors. Do you already notice a change there?
No, not big. I have some partners who believe in me and support me on my way, I am very grateful to them. However, I am always on the lookout. The whole thing with the trips and everything is not cheap. I haven’t been able to earn much prize money yet. But at the moment it’s good the way it is and I’m happy.
When will the prize money get better?
Approximately from the top 100, if you can also play in the main draw at the Grand Slams. Then you can definitely make a living from it. It’s not extremely good yet, but you can finance most of it.
At the beginning of the year you were allowed to qualify for the Australian Open. How was it?
It was very cool. I think the Australian Open is one of the best tournaments – even for juniors. But the quality of the adults is different again. I’m happy with my performance. I narrowly lost in the second round, but it was a great stay.
What do you take away from your first appearance in a Grand Slam qualifier?
It’s something else again. Before the first match I was extremely nervous and I also noticed a difference physically. After the second match I woke up with pretty sore muscles. But it’s good to know how everything is going and it will help me in the next Grand Slams.
You then contested two successful tournaments in the USA.
It was two awesome weeks – also off the pitch. I went straight from Melbourne and it all started very well. I was in the final in the first week. I was disappointed with the defeat. In the second week I still found the energy and played against the same opponent. Then fortunately with the better end.
Dominic Stricker himself
Dominic Stricker was born on August 16, 2002 in Münsingen BE. His parents were professional table tennis players and met and fell in love there. Papa Stephan was part of the national team for ten years. Dominic also started playing table tennis, but in the spring he grabbed the big racket and showed talent early on. He experienced his breakthrough in 2020 by winning the French Open junior tournament – both in singles and in doubles. He is the first Swiss winner after Stan Wawrinka in 2003 and in the same year he was awarded the title of best young athlete. Since then, the 19-year-old has continued to work his way up and is currently 157th in the world rankings.
Dominic Stricker was born on August 16, 2002 in Münsingen BE. His parents were professional table tennis players and met and fell in love there. Papa Stephan was part of the national team for ten years. Dominic also started playing table tennis, but in the spring he grabbed the big racket and showed talent early on. He experienced his breakthrough in 2020 by winning the French Open junior tournament – both in singles and in doubles. He is the first Swiss winner after Stan Wawrinka in 2003 and in the same year he was awarded the title of best young athlete. Since then, the 19-year-old has continued to work his way up and is currently 157th in the world rankings.
After the tournament in Biel you will appear in Lugano as the defending champion. How do you go about it?
That’s cool. There is of course something special about returning to a tournament as the defending champion. I think it’s always nice to do that. You know you played well there last year and you have confidence that you can do well. I’m in good shape right now so I hope to be able to show my performance.
At the beginning of the year you declared the top 150 as your goal and were still just outside the top 200. Now you have almost reached it with rank 157.
It is a good feeling. Nobody expected it to happen so quickly. Of course I will also lose points and fall back. You never know what’s going to happen in tennis. That’s why I won’t plan much differently.
The French Open is also getting closer.
Yes, I will definitely go there and then see what is possible. The goal is to get as far as possible.
Do you have an outstanding bill after last year when you were not invited?
No, not big. It’s nice that I was able to win there as a junior and it was an extremely good experience. I will surely be happy to return. That they didn’t give me a wildcard last year is somehow understandable. Sure, I hoped so, but they also have very good juniors in France.
What does it take for you to make the top 100?
That is difficult to say. Everything has to fit together. You have to have a few good weeks out of the year and play well.
Where can you still make steps forward?
There are a few points I can improve. It’s good to know that I can still improve physically – especially with the best-of-5 games to come.
At the ATP finals, juniors are invited to play with the pros. Have you already been invited?
Yes, in 2020. I was actually allowed to play with everyone – Medvedev, Berrettini, Rublew, Thiem. It was an experience that sure helped me. I saw right away how hard the top of the world work and what they do. So I saw what I could do even better and then I implemented it. That was reflected in the results, and that’s why things suddenly went fast for me.
In that case it was a complete success for you.
Yes, extreme. They contacted us pretty quickly after my victory in Paris and at first we thought hard about whether we wanted to do it or not. It was the end of the year and I could have played one or two more tournaments. But I could never have had such an experience again.
Have the Junior French Open been your big springboard so far?
Absolutely. It was only afterwards that I really realized that. Before the match, I had no idea how important the game is for my career. It opened a lot of doors for me – be it wildcards or self-confidence.
ATP Challenger in Biel current
At the first home tournament in Biel, Dominic Stricker made an attractive start both in singles and in doubles with Marc-Andrea Hüsler. Without losing a set, he stormed into the semi-finals, where he lost 3: 6, 4: 6 to Kacper Zuk (ATP 212) yesterday. In doubles, the final stop is in the semifinals. The Swiss lost 4:6, 6:7 against the later winners from France Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Albano Olivetti. For Kilian Feldbausch, who celebrated an exploit in the opening game against Hüsler, it’s over in the quarter-finals. The teenager still managed an appealing ATP premiere. Leandro Riedi, Stricker’s French Open final opponent from 2020, has to give up in the quarterfinals. Next week we will continue with the ATP Challenger in Lugano.
At the first home tournament in Biel, Dominic Stricker made an attractive start both in singles and in doubles with Marc-Andrea Hüsler. Without losing a set, he stormed into the semi-finals, where he lost 3: 6, 4: 6 to Kacper Zuk (ATP 212) yesterday. In doubles, the final stop is in the semifinals. The Swiss lost 4:6, 6:7 against the later winners from France Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Albano Olivetti. For Kilian Feldbausch, who celebrated an exploit in the opening game against Hüsler, it’s over in the quarter-finals. The teenager still managed an appealing ATP premiere. Leandro Riedi, Stricker’s French Open final opponent from 2020, has to give up in the quarterfinals. Next week we will continue with the ATP Challenger in Lugano.
