Oskari Paldanius got to try his hand at the Helsinki ATP challenger tournament. The result was a narrow loss in the opening round.
There have been many moments of joy in Finnish tennis in recent years Emil Ruusuvuoren, Otto Virtanen and Harri Heliövaaran thanks to. There will certainly be more from the trio in the future, but the next generation is also emerging.
The number one name of the new generation is currently 17 years old Oskari Paldaniuswho played this week as a wild card in the ATP challenger tournament in Helsinki. He narrowly lost in the opening round Patrick Kaukovalle.
Paldanius has made a strong rise in the junior world rankings this year and last week earned his first men’s ATP points at the ITF tournament in Italy, where he advanced to the quarterfinals in singles and the final in doubles. Differences were found between men’s tournaments and junior tournaments.
– In men’s tournaments, the players have a little more strength, so the serve is harder, Paldanius said.
There are also differences in practical matters.
– I didn’t know anyone at the tournament. Usually in junior tournaments I know more or less everything. In juniors, the balls are also changed only if there is a third set. In adult games, balls are changed much more often, so we played with pretty new balls all the time.
The first ATP points are not yet visible in this week’s list, because they are updated with a delay from the smallest tournaments. However, the points have been acquired.
– It’s a big deal. First points are always first points. I will remember that.
Three tournament wins
In the junior championships, Paldanius’ year got off to a rough start. The turnaround happened at the turn of May-June.
– I won the first category race in Belgium. It took off, Paldanius said.
There were two more race wins in October. In the Junior Grand Slam, Paldanius lost at Wimbledon in the qualifiers and at the US Open in the second round of the main series.
Paldanius is now ranked 25th in the junior world list. When the players who will be overage juniors after this year are removed from the list, Paldanius is ninth. It means that he would be entering the junior Grand Slam next year as a ranked player.
– It’s absolutely incredible, I still can’t believe that I was placed in the Grand Slams. If no one passes, that’s how it is.
Next year will be Paldanius’ last in juniors. His purpose is to play both junior competitions and small men’s professional competitions. It’s a very common practice for good junior players who are turning pro.
– I play the biggest junior tournaments, Grand Slams and the biggest category tournaments. The purpose would be to play men’s competitions as well, which I can enter with the help of the junior ranking.
I didn’t like tennis at first
The relationship between Paldanius and tennis was not love at first sight.
– I have pictures of when I was holding a racket at the age of three, but I actually started playing tennis at the age of seven. I was at a tennis camp and afterwards I was asked if I liked it. I said no.
At home, however, the principle was that there must be some kind of hobby. Oskari had already tried, among other things, football, basketball, floorball and gymnastics. However, tennis felt the best and it became his sport.
– Now it is already done for the love of the sport, Paldanius said.
Paldanius says his strengths are forehands and passes. A player with a large size has the most to improve in his movement.
– It’s not as sharp as some smaller guys.
The goals for next year and beyond are clear.
– Next year the goal is to win the M15 men’s tournament and succeed in the junior Grand Slams. My dream is to become a professional and represent Finland in the Olympics or the Davis Cup.