Dominic Stricker manages the sensation against Stefanos Tsitsipas

Dominic Stricker managed a veritable coup in the 2nd round of the US Open with a five-set win against world number 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas.

21-year-old Dominic Stricker (ATP 128) celebrated his greatest success against Tsitsipas. For the first time he won against a top 10 player and for the first time he is in the 3rd round of a Grand Slam tournament. And he will be on the Monday after US Open at least get close to the top 100 in the world rankings.

Dominic Stricker was clearly having fun on the big grandstand at Flushing Meadows, even when he was close to elimination. Again and again he encouraged the New York tennis fans to wave – and they enthusiastically went along with the 21-year-old Berner, who, after qualifying, is only in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time.

Stricker earned his success because he always stayed calm and never let his head down, even when he initially didn’t take his chances – for example a set point at the end of the third set. In the fourth round, the left-hander made up for a deficit of 3:5 and forced the deciding set in a nerve-wracking tie-break.

In this he immediately pulled away to 3:0 and didn’t let himself be deterred from his path. After 4:10 hours, Stricker brought up the 7: 5, 6: 7 (2: 7), 6: 7 (5: 7), 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 3 win with a forehand winner the dry line.

He was “a bit speechless”, said the Berner, who is not overly tall for a tennis professional at 1.83 m, in the course interview. “Super happy,” he described his state of mind. He will now enjoy this victory and then prepare for the next opponent. In the 3rd round on Friday he also has a chance against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi (ATP 108). (lst/nih/sda)

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