Stricker lifts silverware and receives congratulatory Federer text
An elated Dominic Stricker was able to bask in the glory of a Junior Grand Slam title and congratulatory message from the legendary Roger Federer after lifting silverware at the Roland Garros Junior Championships.
Stricker has been in irresistible form all week but saved his best until last as he dispatched fellow Swiss and good friend Leandro Riedi 6-2 6-4 to become Switzerland’s first Junior Grand Slam boys’ champion since Stan Wawrinka, here in Paris, in 2003.
The 18-year-old joins an illustrious list of Swiss names to be crowned a Junior Grand Slam champion, which, as well as Wawrinka, includes the likes of Martina Hingis, Federer, Belinda Bencic and Switzerland’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Heinz Gunthardt.
The link between Switzerland’s emerging crop of junior talent and some of the nation’s stellar names has been well-documented during this tournament, with Federer and Wawrinka again showing their support for their country’s rising stars.
“Roger and Stan both texted,” Stricker told itftennis.com. “Roger texted the coach of Leandro and said to pass on his congratulations to both of us, telling us to enjoy what we’d achieved. Stan also messaged both of us yesterday in a chat to wish us good luck.
“It feels amazing to be on a list of Junior Grand Slam winners with players like that. I cannot really describe how that feels, my feelings are overcoming me to be honest. It is amazing, but it is also unbelievable at the same time.
“Right now, I am proud because I know what I have done to get here. During the lockdown, it was hard to find the motivation at times to do it every day, but I found that motivation from somewhere and it has paid off.
“We’re going to celebrate together this evening, the whole Swiss team. Both Leandro and myself had a great week and I’m looking forward to us all having a meal together and enjoying the moment.”
In the aftermath of his semi-final victory over Argentina’s Juan Bautista Torres on Friday, Stricker shrugged off the significance of a considerably inferior head-to-head record against Riedi – and was right to do so.
He surged out of the blocks and was 3-0 up in the blink of an eye after twice breaking the Riedi serve in a commanding opening set for the left-hander. Riedi battled back with a break of his own but the damage was done and Stricker prevailed 6-2.
He was simply in inspired form and Riedi appeared to have little answer, with Stricker, who had never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals of a Junior Grand Slam, once again breaking early in the second set, from where there only looked to be one winner.
But Riedi was not about to let the chance of a Junior Grand Slam title slip from his grasp without a fight and battled back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3. Stricker, however, was not to be denied and, after breaking again, delivered the knockout blow to take the second set 6-4.
“We were both pretty nervous and it was difficult to start well but I did that pretty well,” added Stricker. “I then just tried to do my thing and I think he was pretty shocked with how I played. We both played a good match but I am happy to be taking the trophy home.”
Given the close bond that exists within the Swiss group – Jeffrey von der Schulenburg and Jerome Kym also featured in the boys’ draw – Riedi was duly magnanimous and full of praise for his conqueror Stricker.
“He was just so aggressive and he played really good tennis,” he said. “It was really hard for me to get any rhythm. I was not playing my best, but I wasn’t playing my worst either. He was just too good for me today. I tried my best but he was just better.
“It was a tough match but Swiss tennis fans have been so excited about today. For two of us to be the final, that is such a cool moment and I’m still really happy to be part of such a historic day for Swiss tennis.”
The day certainly belonged to Stricker and another trophy was soon heading his way as he teamed up with Italy's Flavio Cobolli to claim the boys' doubles title. The duo overcame Brazilians Bruno Oliveira and Natan Rodrigues in the final.