Things are clicking into place for Dominic Stricker, a junior Grand Slam champion now starting to showcase his talents on the biggest stage.
The 21-year-old Swiss was one game away from defeat against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who served for victory at 5-3 in the fourth set of their US Open second-round match. Stricker, however, recovered spectacularly to complete a five-set victory – and a Grand Slam breakthrough.
The world No.128 is into the third round of a major for the first time, and next plays Benjamin Bonzi – another player ranked outside the top 100 – after the Frenchman upset 28th seed Christopher Eubanks, a recent Wimbledon quarterfinalist.
Opportunity knocks for Stricker, the 2020 Roland Garros boys’ singles winner who has vaulted to No.101 in the ATP live rankings.
“(I’m) actually a bit speechless (about) what happened today,” said Stricker, who struck 79 winners during the four-hour match.
“Of course it helps a lot to win a match like that, because beating a player like Stefanos, No.7 in the world, it's just something I have never done before. It's a very special day for me.
“So for sure the confidence for myself is increasing after today, and it's just great to see that I have this level over five sets.
“It's just great to be in the third round.”
Notably, this was not his first five-set triumph at a major. Stricker also did the same at Wimbledon, beating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin for his first Grand Slam main-draw victory. He beat Popyrin again in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
He qualified at Wimbledon, too, a sign of his incremental yet impressive progress at the game’s biggest tournaments.
After falling in the early rounds of Grand Slam qualifying in 2022, things changed this year. He reached the final round of Australian Open qualifying, then again at Roland Garros, debuting in a Grand Slam main draw in Paris as a lucky loser.
Then came his efforts at Wimbledon and the US Open, where his second-round finish at SW19 was bettered by this week's performance in New York. He saved match point in the second round of US Open qualifying last week, and has gone on to win five consecutive matches.
Stricker will set a career-high ranking, another milestone coinciding with a renewed approach to the sport.
He told atptour.com he was working harder, felt fitter and had also reconsidered his diet, cutting back on sweet, sugary foods.
“I think off court everything got a bit more serious,” he said. “I think everything is more professional than it was and that helps me for sure.”
In the same interview, coach Dieter Kindlmann – who has worked with Maria Sharapova, Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys – said he had impressed on Stricker the importance of adopting better routines and structures for all off-court preparation.
“I don't think there was a big turning point, but I just realised that it's maybe going to help me for these long matches like the one today,” Stricker said of his more focused approach.
“It's just great to see if I changed it … a bit to eat less sugar, less chocolate, all that stuff. Also for my team, they are also doing it, so it's great for me to have this support from them.
“Now it's just great to see that my body is able to play four hours at this high level.”
By overcoming Tsitsipas in five sets, he emulated illustrious countrymen Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, former US Open champions who also scored gritty five-set wins over top-10 opponents early in their careers at Flushing Meadows.
It may come as no surprise Stricker identifies Federer as an idol, and being Swiss has meant more opportunities to connect with one of the sport’s ultimate icons.
Previous coach Sven Swinnen came through the Swiss Tennis development pathway with Federer, a relationship helping Stricker score two invitations to Federer’s base in Dubai for pre-season training.
Stricker said on Wednesday there was no one player he had tried to emulate when developing his style. Yet there are perhaps some similarities with Federer in the well-roundedness of his game.
“I would say (I’m a) pretty loose player. Good serve, good forehand. Also my backhand is pretty solid right now… also trying to find a way to go to the net and finish the points as soon as possible,” Stricker summarised.
“I think I can play good on all surfaces. I played good on grass this year as well. Clay I played good as well some tournaments. I would maybe even say hard court is my favourite surface.”
That last comment bodes well as Stricker attempts to channel his ever-improving form and confidence into an even bigger Grand Slam result.