PRAGUE, May 6, 2023
#NextGenATP star Dominic Stricker and Austria’s Sebastian Ofner have reached the final of the Advantage Cars Prague Open 2023, an ATP Challenger Tour 75 event being held at the I. CLTK Praha. Stricker knocked out top seed and World No. 79 Filip Krajinovic of Serbia 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday.
The 20-year-old lefty fired 12 aces and won 80 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
“My serve is definitely one of my strengths,” seventh-seeded Stricker told Tennis TourTalk about his offensive game style, searching the way to the net as often as possible and added: “I also find the brave, the gambling at the net pretty cool. You never know what’s going to happen, and of course I’d like to keep it that way. I try to dominate the game with my forehand. I’m still working on my backhand. Of course, there is always room for improvement.”
The World No. 129, who wants to crack the Top 100 and qualify for his first main draw at a Grand Slam this season, is seeking his fifth ATP Challenger career title on Sunday, his second of the season following his triumph in Rovereto, Italy.
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Earlier in the day, Ofner also had to go the distance when he outlasted Slovakian Lukas Klein 7-6(4), 0-6, 6-3. The 26-year-old won four points less than his opponent but prevailed after two hours and 12 minutes.
Ofner, champion at last year’s Sparta Prague Open, could lift his fourth Challenger career trophy. Stricker and Ofner will meet for the first time.
Nouza/Paulson win all-Czech doubles final
In other action, Petr Nouza and Andrew Paulson from the Czech Republic captured the doubles title. The pair ended the run of their compatriot and wild card entries Jiri Barnat and Jan Hrazdil with a 6-4, 6-3 win after 65 minutes in the final. Nouza and Paulson split €4,250 in prize money and earned 75 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
