Sven Swinnen nonetheless remembers the primary time he watched Dominic Stricker play. The lefty, who was 14 on the time, visited the Swiss Tennis Academy in Biel, Switzerland. Not to place any strain on the juniors coaching there with massive desires, the power is situated on Roger-Federer-Allee.
“He was hitting the ball already fairly clear. He had the ball properly on his racquet already at a younger age,” Swinnen informed ATPTour.com. “Obviously possibly his footwork wasn’t the most effective but. He nonetheless can enhance on that as we speak. But slowly it’s getting higher and higher.”
Stricker was simply visiting for a pair days of apply on the nation’s nationwide coaching centre. Six years later he’s 20 years outdated, and Swinnen is his full-time coach. The lefty is on the rise.
Stricker completed his 2022 season enjoying a number of the greatest tennis of his profession, successful a main-draw match on the ATP 250 in Antwerp and one other on the ATP 500 in Basel, his house occasion. Then he shone on the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, defeating Jack Draper, Lorenzo Musetti and Chun-Hsin Tseng in round-robin play earlier than falling within the semi-finals.
“We attempt to take one step at a time. Now clearly he’s near the Top 100, so the subsequent purpose if you happen to discuss rankings-wise will likely be to get a spot within the Top 100 and attempt to maintain it for a while,” Swinnen mentioned of his cost, who’s No. 118 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. “Don’t get too caught up in attempting to get factors or assume an excessive amount of about factors, attempt to maintain engaged on the issues it’s a must to enhance on courtroom after which all of the stuff will come mechanically.”
Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Swinnen is a lot aware of younger Swiss gamers with massive prospects. The former University of Oregon student-athlete grew up with Roger Federer.
“We’ll all the time say somewhat bit the identical to the younger youngsters,” Swinnen mentioned. “Everybody goes his personal path, deal with that, deal with enhancing and it’s simply nice to have someone like Roger that we’ve in Switzerland. That will even encourage them possibly to play.
“They get to know him, additionally. Dominic performed a few instances with him, in order that was additionally good.”
In 2021, Stricker relayed to the media a narrative about how throughout their coaching collectively, Federer mentioned the significance of the serve together with his youthful countryman. That shot has turn out to be one among Stricker’s largest weapons.
According to Swinnen, it has been vital to proceed growing that power.
“Sometimes you need to maintain attempting to enhance the weaknesses, however I additionally wish to put deal with his strengths. Keep enhancing his serve,” Swinnen mentioned. “He’s serving already fairly good, that’s an enormous weapon of his, his serve, for his peak. Keep enhancing on these after which there are many issues he can enhance on.”
Judging by the top of 2022, followers will more and more turn out to be aware of that shot, too. In Milan, Stricker confirmed no worry of an enormous stage on the Allianz Cloud. Swinner added that alternatives like that can solely assist his participant develop.
“Everybody’s dreaming about these levels, these massive tournaments. That’s why you practise. That’s what all of the younger youngsters dream about, to play these massive occasions,” Swinnen mentioned. “Suddenly if you happen to get nearer, you actually need to attempt to get there. I hope he retains his focus, retains practising laborious and hopefully he can play an increasing number of of these occasions.”