Huesler/Stricker Victorious On Home Soil In Gstaad
Wild cards Marc-Andrea Huesler and Dominic Stricker capped a dream week on home soil on Sunday when they overcame Polish duo Szymon Walkow and Jan Zielinski 6-1, 7-6(7) to lift the Swiss Open Gstaad trophy.
The Swiss, who were competing in just their second ATP Tour event together, dropped only one set en route to the title. They were dominant on serve in the final, winning 34 of their 35 first-service points. Huesler and Stricker took their third match point in the second-set tie-break to record victory in 65 minutes.
“We both started off serving really well, and the return games were going our way,” Huesler said. “We almost didn’t miss a shot in the first set, but in doubles that can go very fast. Our opponents put up a fight in the second set, but we were almost untouchable on our service games and that is probably why we won the match.”
“It is something very special to win my first title at home,” Stricker added. “It is always great to win a title, but to win with another Swiss guy is different. Hopefully we can win another one.”
With the victory, 18-year-old Stricker became the youngest ATP Tour doubles champion since 18-year-old Mikael Ymer won the 2016 Stockholm Open crown (w/E. Ymer). The teen is the youngest Gstaad doubles champion in the Open Era, and the previous youngest was Roger Federer, who triumphed here in 2001 with Marat Safin.
Huesler and Stricker enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals at the Gonet Geneva Open in May. They were both competing in their first ATP Tour final on Sunday.
Walkow and Zielinski were making their ATP Tour team debut as a team this week but own a 24-9 record on the ATP Challenger Tour level this year. They have claimed two titles at that level this season.