GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI, August 14, 2024
Due to a lower back injury, Dominic Stricker had to take a six-month break from tennis. His comeback took place this June at the Surbiton Trophy on English grass. After participating in home tournaments on clay in Gstaad and Zug, as well as matches in the National League A and winning the title with TC Seeblick ZH, he now begins his season on hard courts.
At the Kozerki Open ATP Challenger in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland, the 21-year-old from Bern got off to a strong start. On Tuesday afternoon, Stricker fought hard to win his first-round match against India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
We arranged an interview with the World No. 190 following his victory.
Tennis TourTalk: Congratulations on today’s win. What made the difference?
Dominic Stricker: It’s never easy against players like him. He serves really well. The court is extremely slow. I also had to get used to the hard courts again, as I was playing on clay just last week. But in the end, I took control of the match and was more efficient.
How are you feeling after the long break? How is your current condition?
Everything’s good. I feel really fit, probably even fitter than before. I have no pain on the court anymore, which was the main goal. It’s great that it turned out that way.
Can you tell us more about your six-month forced break? How was that period for you?
It was definitely a difficult time for me. At first, we didn’t know how serious it was. We never expected it to drag on for so long. Initially, it was about managing the pain and then rebuilding the muscles in my back to make everything better. Eventually, I could start playing tennis again. There were setbacks along the way, as I sometimes did too much. It took time to get to the point where I was completely pain-free again.
You’re someone who likes to train with the ball. How did you cope during the time when that wasn’t always possible?
I missed it a lot. When someone takes away what you’ve loved doing for years, you really feel the loss. We tried to incorporate some playful elements whenever possible. Towards the end, I was able to play golf again, which helped me clear my head.
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You’ve been back on tour for a few weeks now. You started on grass in Surbiton, followed by home events in Gstaad and Zug. What’s your assessment?
It wasn’t easy to regain the rhythm, but the best part was simply being back, being able to play tennis again. Now it’s about building confidence. Matches like today’s can help with that.
You also competed in the Swiss League. What role did that play?
It was great for gaining match practice and building confidence. We ended up winning the Swiss championship, which was a fantastic finish with great teammates.
The US Open is coming up, where you reached the round of 16 last year. You have some points to defend. Is there any pressure building up?
Not really. Even if it doesn’t happen during the US Open week, I know I’ll earn the points somewhere else. A lot can still happen before then. I’ll be playing here and in Winston-Salem beforehand.
This is your first time at the Kozerki Open. What are your impressions?
It’s really nice here. The hotel is right next to the venue. Everything is very new. We have a large gym, and the food is excellent.
The Olympic Games in Paris just ended. What were your highlights?
There were quite a few. Switzerland won a gold medal. I watched a lot of beach volleyball. I also followed golf, and athletics is always very exciting. Overall, I flipped through various sports.
You’re a fan of Young Boys Bern. They’ve become Swiss football champions. Your coach, Dieter Kindlmann, is a Bayern Munich fan. Are you hoping for a match-up in the Champions League?
Didi has already made a few jokes. We’re playing in the qualifiers against Galatasaray Istanbul, and he didn’t give us much of a chance. But we’ll see. Our season hasn’t started that well, but the team will improve.
What role did Dieter Kindlmann play during your injury break?
He played a very important role. He’s always very involved in the match. We also have a good time off the court, having lots of fun together. We enjoy playing cards or dice. We’re good at separating work from leisure.
What do you need to do to get back to your level from a year ago?
I think it’s just a matter of confidence, but that comes with time. I feel it in practice, and winning matches like today’s really helps. However, it’s important to keep things in perspective. It’s normal that not everything works perfectly right now. For example, I haven’t faced any break points in a while. It’s not easy to stay cool and relaxed, like before, but that takes time.
Do you miss the big tournaments, or is it difficult for you to compete in smaller events?
It’s not easy when you come from big events. But right now, I’m happy with every single match, no matter where or against whom. I’m also enjoying playing in front of smaller crowds. The weather is fantastic, and it’s great to play here. I’m very happy to have won my first round.
Now you’ll face Mark Lajal. What do you expect from that match?
We haven’t played against each other yet, but I’ve seen him play a few times. He played today at the same time as me, so I’ll definitely take another look and plan accordingly.
Thank you, and good luck.
Interview: Florian Heer
