After fifteen years in the elite, Jarkko Nieminen’s career came to an end today at the age of 34 after being knocked out by lucky loser Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. With Finland not having a tournament on the calendar, Stockholm was the closest place to come for the Finn to say goodbye and the fans showed their love for the Scandinavian as he was sent off with a standing ovation and applause from the public.
Nieminen sat for a while with the towel over his head after the battle was over and, fighting to push back the tears he managed to bid his farewell. “I hope the same thing will happen in Finland. If there is a tournament there I would like it if they supported a Swedish player like they have done to me here in Stockholm. I wasn’t aware once I lost the match that it was the end of my single’s career, For the first second afterwards I was angry, as always, to have lost, but when I sat down and heard the fans I became very emotional”, said Nieminen.
“I feel quite empty”, were Nieminen’s final words in a press conference with the local media. He can’t quite hang up his racket yet though as he still has the doubles to look forward to alongside local player Johan Brunstrom and then on the 13th of November will he definitively bring down the curtains on his career with an exhibition at Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena against Roger Federer.
There was plenty more action today in Stockholm where Chardy defeated Kokkinakis, Sock overcame Carreño and Baghdatis knocked out Querrey, and Muller, Darcis, Delbonis, Dimitrov and Leo Mayer also proceeded to the second round.
