Cleveland Open: Stricker Surges To Title

Cleveland Open ATP Challenger

CLEVELAND/STARNBERG, February 7, 2022

Swiss teenager Dominic Stricker is the champion of the fourth edition of the Cleveland Open. The 19-year-old upset Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, No. 3 seed of the $53,120 hard-court tournament, 7-5, 6-1 in Sunday’s singles final at the Cleveland Racquet Club.

Stricker battled his way to the title match through the bottom half of the draw with wins over Italian veteran Andreas Seppi as well as US-Americans Emilio Nava, Ernesto Escobedo and Michael Mmoh.

The World No. 204, who finished runner-up to Nishioka at last week’s Tennis Ohio Championships in Columbus, was rock solid on his serve, as he struck eight aces and won 84 per cent of his first-service points. Stricker saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on three of his own 11 break-point opportunities to seal victory in one hour and 17 minutes.

 

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Following his maiden triumph on the ATP Challenger Tour on home soil at the Lugano Challenger in late March last year, the 19-year-old clinched his second career title. Stricker earned $7,200 in prize money and collected 80 ATP Ranking points. The lefty from Münsingen has reached a new career-high ranking of World No. 164.

Blumberg/Schnur triumph in doubles

On Saturday, William Blumberg and Max Schnur were crowned champions of the doubles competition. The second favourites defeated the tournament top seeds Robert Galloway and Jackson Withrow in an all-US-American final 6-3, 7-6(4). The encounter lasted one hour and 12 minutes.

By winning their fourth team title, Blumberg and Schnur split $3,100 in prize money and earned 80 ATP Doubles Ranking points.