Dominic Stricker serves his way past Jack Draper in three tiebreaks at Next Gen Finals in Milan

World No 111 Dominic Stricker rode lights-out serving past 41st-ranked Jack Draper in Milan, notching a 4-3(5), 4-3(5), 4-3(5) victory on his Next Gen ATP Finals debut. The 20-year-old Swiss dropped just one first-serve point in the second and third sets combined as he edged the rising Brit in a tight battle of big serves and first strikes.

Stricker becomes the first player to ever win a match in straight sets with all tiebreaks in Next Gen ATP Finals history.

The Swiss has had a solid season, clinching two ATP Challenger Tour titles and earning three Top 40 wins (Cressy, Van de Zandschulp and Karatsev) in 2022.

Stricker won 37 of 43 first-serve points and registered 33 winners against just four unforced errors. Draper was solid as well, winning 36 of 44 first-serve points and hitting 25 winners against three unforced.

It was all about the breakers in Milan.

“Feels amazing,” Stricker said. “I started well, the serve helped me a lot, you and then I was just aggressive from the baseline.

“I think I really served amazing. He served very good as well, but I think I stayed aggressive on his second serves; he’s, he’s an amazing player with his heavy forehand. It was not easy for me to always stay aggressive but I think I did very well.”

You might also like this

Title favourite Musetti impresses in Next Gen Finals opener

tennis majors

Players, schedule, format: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2022 ATP Next Gen Finals (but never had time to find out)

tennis majors

Nakashima survives surprising Italian Arnaldi in tense NextGen Finals clash

tennis majors