Johan Nikles (ATP 294) is the first big winner of the Gonet Geneva Open. Appearing at his home club, the Geneva-born player has made it through the qualifiers of an ATP 250 tournament for the first time in his career.
Fresh from defeating Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk (ATP 99) on Saturday, Nikles overcame Lukas Rosol (ATP 249) 6-4 6-4 to book a place in the main draw. A semi-finalist in the 2016 tournament, when he lost to Stan Wawrinka, the Czech will have had difficulty recognising the player he beat 6-2 6-1 at last July’s Challenger Tour event in Amersfoort, Netherlands. “I went out there to fight,” said Nikles, after his breakthrough win, one that has come after several months of trying.
Nikles now faces a Swiss derby on Tuesday against Zurich player Leandro Riedi (ATP 331), with the winner advancing to a round-of-16 tie against Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor (ATP 67). First up, however, is a richly promising order of play on Monday, with Richard Gasquet taking on John Millman, Dominic Thiem facing Marco Cecchinato, and Benoit Paire up against Emil Ruusuvuori, all from 16:00 on the Court Central.
Local boy Nikles hits the heights
