The 18-year-old from Bern could not be stopped by the top seeded Japanese Yuichi Sugita (ATP 109) and prevailed in a good two hours 5: 7, 6: 4, 6: 4.
Stricker, junior winner at the French Open last autumn and named the greatest Swiss sporting talent, is only making his second appearance at the second highest level of the ATP in Lugano. In the quarter and semi-finals, the left-hander won for the first time against players from the top 150 in the world.
In the final of the indoor tournament he meets the Ukrainian Vitaly Satschko (ATP 389). Only two Swiss were younger when they first reached a Challenger Final: Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. In the world rankings, Stricker will climb at least 350 places.
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