Thanks to a wildcard, Dominic was allowed to play in Gstaad for the first time at the Swiss Open from 17.07.2021.
What a week that was. First a narrow defeat against the strong-serving A. Rinderknech ATP 91, who then also beat the tournament’s No. 2 R. B. Augut ATP 16.
In the doubles (also with a wild card), he played together with M. Hüsler. Dominic’s doubles ranking before the tournament was ATP 377 and Hüsler’s ATP 178. It quickly became clear that they would only be up against better ranked opponents (around ATP 100). So our boys were total outsiders.
A first round on court no. 1 followed. In front of hundreds of spectators (every seat occupied including the stairs), the two played fantastic tennis and won 6:4 / 6:4. ¼ final awaited strong Argentines. Our boys were convincing and did not let themselves be put off. 6:1 / 6:4.
½ final against the favoured Frenchmen B. Paire ATP 49 and again A. Rinderknech. The 1.96 tall Frenchmen hit one service after the other on our side. A service break was almost impossible. However, impossible did not exist for the spectators. Hopp Schwitz – Hopp Schwitz was sung in the loudest tones. So it came to 6:4 in the first set. In the second set an early break (the only break of the whole tournament) to 4:6. Now the Champions Tiebreak. Pure drama and tension. Something like that cannot be described. Finally, the 6th match point was converted.
A roaring audience and a place in the final.
In the final there were 2 Polish doubles specialists. On the centre court and in front of a big crowd and live on TV on SRF, our boys started the match brilliantly and were able to break their opponents quickly. The first set was quickly 6:1 in the dry. But now they changed their tactics and came back into the match. The tiebreak in the second set had to decide. Finally, they could use their 3rd match point after a service (191 km/h by Dominic). Now all the dams broke. Marc and Dominic fell into each other’s arms and the audience was unstoppable. What a great day with a great victory for both of them and for the Swiss Open. The first victory in the Bernese Oberland for a Swiss doubles team in 12 years. 18 years old, Dominic also takes over a record from Roger Federer. At 19 (2001), RF was the youngest player to win a doubles match in Gstaad.