Dominic Stricker started the primary draw of this yr’s US Open at No. 128 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, one spot decrease than he was 12 months in the past. However, the Swiss is much from the identical participant.
“I really feel higher on court docket than I did final yr. I really feel like my sport has improved once more,” Stricker instructed ATPTour.com. “I’m additionally getting fitter body-wise, in order that helps for positive. And now I hope the rating goes to extend as properly. But I believe if I carry on doing my issues like I’m doing proper now, it may go greater fairly quickly.”
Stricker on Wednesday may have a possibility to succeed in the third spherical of a significant for the primary time when he faces seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. It is an enormous probability for a participant who wanted to save lots of match level within the second spherical of qualifying towards Pablo Llamas Ruiz. The match put him in one of many craziest predicaments a tennis participant might confront.
Facing match level at 8/9 within the final-set tie-break, Stricker acquired out of bother with an enormous serve and walked in direction of his chair as he ready to alter sides of the court docket. Then it started to rain, sending the gamers off court docket.
“We tried to not speak in regards to the match in any respect, simply to be relaxed. We performed some video games simply to not give it some thought an excessive amount of,” Stricker mentioned. “But in fact, you are fascinated about the place to serve, what to do on the subsequent level and every thing. So you really carry on enjoying the match throughout the entire time you do not spend on court docket.
“We performed Yahtzee. It’s fairly humorous, as a result of I do not know after we began it, however we’re enjoying it so many instances in a day. It’s really loopy.”
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Upon the match’s resumption, Stricker didn’t face one other match level and rode his serve to victory. The lefty then cruised previous Thiago Agustin Tirante to qualify and defeated Alexei Popyrin within the first spherical of the primary draw, a feat he additionally achieved at Wimbledon.
“Super glad right this moment. I performed an excellent match, nice first two units. Maybe I misplaced it a bit on the finish of the third, however I got here again sturdy within the fourth,” Stricker mentioned. “So simply tremendous glad to be by.”
A semi-finalist eventually yr’s Next Gen ATP Finals, the 21-year-old Swiss had not competed in a most important draw earlier than this season. But he’s rapidly gaining expertise on the game’s largest phases and performing properly within the course of. Why?
“I believe off court docket every thing acquired a bit extra severe. I’m additionally working perhaps somewhat bit more durable than I did earlier than,” Stricker mentioned. “I believe every thing is extra skilled than it was and that helps me for positive.”
Stricker competed on the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals.
That is one thing that his new coach since April, Dieter Kindlmann, agreed with. Kindlmann, the previous World No. 130 who has coached WTA stars Maria Sharapova, Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka amongst others, has focussed on bettering the Swiss’ every day habits.
“I’ve labored with very high-profile girls earlier than, and I see an enormous expertise in him. But I additionally see so many issues that we’ve to work on. It’s not solely on the court docket, it is also exterior, what it means to be skilled, what it means to be a Top 100, Top 80, Top 50 participant,” Kindlmann mentioned. “I believe step-by-step he has to be taught what it means to be working within the gymnasium, working with the physio, doing prevention, getting extra in particulars, engaged on a construction, planning the entire yr.
“I believed from my first dialog he was an excellent man. He’s humorous, he is an excellent character, a really good man. But he is additionally somewhat bit goofy and likes to play. But he has to grasp, that is what I attempt to educate him, what it means to be knowledgeable participant every single day.”
An instance Kindlmann cited to elucidate his level was Stricker’s warmup routine earlier than a match. Sometimes he didn’t grip his racquets or put together his bottles. He would do a brief, rushed bodily warmup.
“For me I imagine very a lot in doing every thing with routine, but additionally not shedding his manner of gamestyle. Not make every thing too severe, however carry extra construction in trusting his physique, getting fitter, believing you may beat these guys,” Kindlmann mentioned. “This is my job, what I attempt to educate and I’m really very, very glad after I noticed him right this moment.”
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Diet is an space upon which Stricker has positioned elevated emphasis.
“You’re wanting a bit extra at what you are consuming. It relies upon perhaps the night time earlier than the match what you are going to eat after the match and all that stuff, simply to get that power again,” Stricker mentioned. “I believe that is one of many issues that modified lots.”
In the previous, he might need eaten some cookies or chocolate. Now, not a lot.
“Of course, generally you want it. It’s human,” Stricker mentioned. “Maybe generally you want a Coke or something like that. You do not take it every single day. I’ll say let’s take extra glowing water and that stuff.”
Stricker’s subsequent opponent, Tsitsipas, remembers enjoying the Swiss on grass in Stuttgart final yr. The Greek gained in straight units, however recognised his opponent’s talent.
“He’s a proficient child. He has expertise,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “He can really feel the ball. He can do loads of issues with the ball.”
Stricker will attempt to present the world simply that when he performs Tsitsipas once more for a spot within the third spherical of the US Open.
“I’m tremendous glad. It’s nice to play him once more,” Stricker mentioned. “It’s simply only a nice alternative for me to point out my tennis, to get pleasure from that match as a result of it may be an excellent match.”
Source: www.atptour.com