ATP Geneva: Johan Nikles’ daydream on the clay court of Eaux-Vives – rts.ch

Ranked 294th at the ATP, Johan Nikles brilliantly extricated himself from qualifying for the Geneva Open on Sunday. Before tackling the final table on Tuesday against his compatriot Leandro Riedi, the Genevan says his happiness and his ambitions.

Pollen obliges, the eyes sting at the entrance of the Parc des Eaux-Vives, this sumptuous setting which hosts the Geneva Open. Then it’s the show that fills the eyes of the visitor. Especially when Johan Nikles (ATP 294), the regional stage, sets fire to the central. On Saturday and Sunday, the Genevan left big tennis to enter the main draw, alongside big names Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem. His victories over Peter Gojowczyk (the first of his career against a member of the top-100) and Lukas Rosol marked the spirits.

He who in the past has already received invitations to Gstaad therefore pulls himself out of the qualifiers for an ATP tournament for the first time. “I live a bit of a daydream“, he appreciates. A dream that takes on yet another dimension on the crushed brick of the edges of the lake. “It’s definitely specialhe continues. Les Eaux-Vives is my club and I think I know everyone who was in the audience. (laughs). So there was a mix of everything after the match point. I am inhabited by many emotions. But it’s only positive.”

Les Eaux-Vives is my club and I think I know everyone who was in the audience.

Johan Nikles, ATP 294

Place now in his 16th final, an appointment that he will approach without fear against his compatriot Leandro Riedi, beneficiary of an invitation following the withdrawal of Stan Wawrinka. Without fear, yes, because the 25-year-old has gained experience since his appearances in the Oberland, in 2019 and 2021. “My defeat last year at Gstaad made me realize that I lacked experience and rhythm for meetings of this type.he recalls. At the time, with my coach, we thought that I should go and play Challengers more than confine myself to Futures tournaments. Even if it means winning fewer matches, I had to come up against another level. No doubt that my qualification here does not come from nowhere.“

The click of Gstaad 2021

Proof of this is that against Lukas Rosol, former 26th in the world and executioner of Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon 10 years ago, Johan Nikles took matters into his own hands and entered his opponent’s bacon directly. Rosol folded, and broke, in 1h18. “Last year he put me 6-2 6-1 in the Challenger in Amersfoort, so I knew I was not the favorite this time around and had to change things.smiles the child of Lancy. So I had no pressure. It was just necessary to go to the fight, not to reproduce the same errors as in the Netherlands, not to be passive.” Johan Nikles knew how to apply his game plan, but also his “behaviour plan”, showing an Olympian calm.

Even in complicated times, I was able to remain impervious to what was happening around me and to what was at stake.

Johan Nikles, ATP 294

“That’s maybe what I’ve enjoyed the most about me in the last two days.he notes. I heard the encouragement from the public, I heard people pushing me, but at the same time I was in my bubble. Even in complicated times, I was able to remain impervious to what was happening around me and to what was at stake, then I was able to continue to build my points.”

It will now be a question of doing the same against Leandro Riedi, an opponent within his reach. So that the dream of a few spring nights continues, like a wonderful springboard for the future.

Arnaud Cerutti, Geneva – @arnaud_cerutti