Unusual - Stricker Wins a Doubles Match… Paired with His Coach

A rising star of Swiss tennis just a few months ago, Dominic Stricker saw his progress come to a sudden halt due to a back injury that kept him off the court for six months at the start of last season. Once ranked in the top 100 (No. 88) and now sitting at 266th, the 22-year-old is slowly rebuilding his career after enduring moments of doubt.

Currently competing at the Italian tournament in Santa Margherita di Pula, Stricker is entered in singles and has advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will face Dutch player Max Houkes.

The Swiss player also decided to participate in the doubles event, and Stricker shared an unusual story about it on his social media.

Apparently unable to find a partner for the doubles tournament, Stricker asked his 42-year-old coach, Dieter Kindlmann, to team up with him.

In the end, the pair received a last-minute wild card and went on to win their first-round match against the top-seeded duo of Mario Mansilla Diez and Bruno Pujol Navarro, both Spanish players (4-6, 6-4, 10-8).

“No doubles partner? No problem! That just means my coach has to make a comeback. Today, Dieter Kindlmann and I are hitting the ball together on the court, and this photo was taken the exact moment we found out we got the wild card. ‘Didi,’ 42 years old, officially comes out of retirement! Let’s go,” the Swiss player wrote on his Instagram account.