Dominic’s home tournament in Gstaad. In the Bernese Oberland, things got serious and Dominic played at the highest ATP sand tournament in the world. Dominic received a WC from the organisers for the main draw. The field was probably stronger than ever before.
To kick off the previous week, Dominic was able to do a cool video and photo shoot on the Glacier 3000 on Monday. Tele Bärn also did a nice report on it.
After the sensational victory in the doubles with M.A. Hüsler in 2021, the singles draw in 2022 wanted the two friends to meet directly in the first round. He played against the new No. 1 of Switzerland, M.A. Hüsler ATP 96, in front of a large crowd. The match was broadcast live on SRF. And the match kept its promise. Two of the best Swiss tennis players offered the spectators a spectacle at the highest level. The first set was a 6:6 tie-break, which Mac won. The second set was like the first. At eye level. Both served well and a second tie-break was already booked. Then Mac broke at 4:4 and the score was 4:5. Service Mac 40:0 and 3 match points. But then he showed nerves and Dominic scored 5 points in a row. The match was tied and soon it came to the tie-break in the second set. And Dominic was clearly the better player. The set was tied. 4:4 in the third and the game was actually already booked for Mac. But he had not reckoned with Dominic. Dominic scored the point with a great, almost impossible, longline ball. Break done. 5:4. Now Dominic could serve the match home. And under thunderous applause he managed the almost impossible. To win a match that was actually lost after 2.5 hours of play. What a comeback and what an earned victory.
In the second round, the number 4 seed Alber Ramos-Vignolas, ATP 40, a clay court specialist from Spain and winner of the Gstaad 2019 tournament, was waiting for Dominic. And again, Dominic offered spectacle and super tennis. However, it was easy to see why the Spaniard won here in 2019. He hardly made any mistakes and played perfect clay court tennis. 3:6 in the first set. But Dominic had something against it and won the break under frenetic cheering of the audience and soon the second set with 6:4. 1:0 Dominic and break point for him. But the Spaniard put the ball on the line. And in the next game the opposite happened and the Spaniard got the break and so it went on. Another 2 break points for Dominic, which he could not take, and the Spaniard took his next chance. So Dominic, with his young 19 years, lost this match. However, he and the many spectators can be proud of what he showed. He can continue to build on a narrow defeat against such an opponent and look forward to the rest of the season with strength.
In the doubles Stricker/Hüsler lost in the first round against Ymer/Ymer 4:6/6:7.
Thanks to all who supported Dominic in Gstaad.