Leandro Riedi's major debut was a failure – but Wimbledon was still a bright spot for the Swiss tennis player

In the fall of 2020, the future of Swiss tennis was knocking loudly and clearly on the door. Dominic Stricker and Leandro Riedi faced each other in the final of the Roland-Garros junior tournament in Paris. Stricker won the match, instantly capturing the attention of the Swiss media. The era after the Roger Federer and Stan Wawrink era seemed assured.

However, at the height of euphoria, Alessandro Greco, the head of competitive sports at Swiss Tennis, warned that out of 200 talented players, only one would actually make it into the top 100 of the world rankings. "The chance of becoming a top star is practically zero. At least it increases slightly if you're already successful as a junior. All of the players in the top 20 today were already among the best at the junior level. Even the Russian Daniil Medvedev, who is said to have not attracted much attention as a young player, was once ranked number 12 in the junior rankings."

Stricker has already reached the top 100 once. After advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open, the Bernese was temporarily ranked 88th. His path to the top of the world rankings seemed set. But shortly thereafter, his major decline began. Stricker is currently ranked 238th and will miss this year's Wimbledon main event. He failed in the final round of qualifying.

Stricker's path may serve as a warning. The competitive landscape in tennis is extremely high. Only those willing to subordinate everything to the sport may actually make it to the top sooner or later. Luck and chance also play a significant role in this. The example of Stricker's opponent in the final in Paris, Leandro Riedi, illustrates this.

Like Stricker, Ried is 23 years old and, like Stricker, from Eastern Switzerland. On Monday, the opening day of Wimbledon, he made his first appearance in the main draw of a major tournament. Riedi was considered the more talented of the two competitors of the same age in Swiss men's tennis. He has won seven of eight direct encounters against Stricker. However, he lost the most important one, the final of the Paris junior tournament.

Since then, Riedi has struggled with both mental and health-related problems. Initially, it was difficult for him to get over the Paris defeat against his tennis twin. As the disappointment of missing out on the junior major title slowly subsided, the health problems began: Riedi missed almost the entire last season due to knee problems. In September 2024, he underwent surgery on his right knee for this purpose. He suffered from inflammation of the patellar tendon under his kneecap. This inflammation was caused by a growth spurt.

Before starting the main Wimbledon tournament, Riedi told the Swiss media: "It was clear that I would have to undergo the operation at some point because I couldn't play any longer with this pain." The bone had torn off, and part of it had slipped under the patellar tendon. The tendon had to be split open so the bone could be removed. The procedure was performed by Roland Biedert, Roger Federer's long-time doctor.

Riedi had barely returned to the pitch when he twisted his knee again – injuring his meniscus in the process. He was out for another four months. Added to that was a lactose intolerance, which hadn't been recognized as such for a long time. Frustration and self-doubt took over the player's mind.

Without the support of his coach, Yannik Steinegger, Riedi might have already put down his racket. The Basel native is only a year older than Riedi (24). The two get along well off the court, too, and spend their free time playing computer games, among other things. Riedi is full of praise for his coach: "He's young, but he has a wealth of knowledge." While Steinegger may not have a big name, they get along well as people.

Qualifying for the main event at Wimbledon is a first glimmer of hope after months of setbacks and self-doubt. The All England Lawn Tennis Championships are only Riedi's third tournament since his comeback. His opponent in his major debut was Oliver Tarvet (21, ATP 733), who also advanced to the main event via qualifying.

The match was also the Brit's Grand Slam debut. He usually plays college tennis in the USA. On Court 4, in the shadow of the legendary Centre Court, Riedi was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and the task at hand, losing the match after two hours and 18 minutes in straight sets (4:6, 4:6, 4:6). A break in each set was enough for the Brit to secure a surprisingly comfortable victory. The score of 100-73 in favor of Tarvet leaves no doubt as to who was the better tennis player on this Monday. Tarvet had the edge in all statistical categories.

After the match, Riedi spoke of a frustrating afternoon. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the atmosphere. Of course, he had hoped to play on a larger court. Tarvet acted like a rubber wall, and everything came back. "It was just a struggle to win a point. He really deserved to win this match. He was clearly better. I couldn't find a solution."

Riedi would have been given the larger court in the second round against Spanish defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Italian Fabio Fognini. Instead, Riedi has already had to say goodbye to Wimbledon. Nevertheless, the trip to Church Road was worth it for him: He will move up a few places in the rankings. He also receives prize money of €77,500. It is the biggest check Riedi has earned with a racket to date.

Even though the debut performance certainly didn't live up to expectations, it was a first step forward after dozens of setbacks. But the men's tournament at Wimbledon will continue without Swiss participation after the opening day. This is the grim reality of Swiss tennis in the summer of 2025.