Finland’s year in tennis was successful in many ways.
Captain of the Finnish men’s national tennis team and former top player Jarkko Nieminen walked the red carpet of the Sports Gala. In the past year, Finnish tennis players made a great impression around the world.
The icing on the cake was, of course, the first time in history in the final tournament of the Davis Cup, during which Finland finally progressed to the semi-finals. At the individual level, one grand slam championship was celebrated when Harri Heliövaara conquered his mixed doubles pair at the US Open Anna Danilina with.
National team captain Jarkko Nieminen led Finland to a historic achievement in the Davis Cup. Matti Matikainen
At the gala, the Finnish national team is nominated for Team of the Year. Nieminen himself can receive the Coach of the Year statue at the gala.
The consequences of tennis success put Nieminen in a good mood.
– All in all, it’s great what support and encouragement there has been during the year. There is interest across genre boundaries, Nieminen states.
– In various clubs, regardless of age, people are joining the sport. Of course, a national match will be played at home soon, where the audience record will be set for the second time.
At the beginning of February, Finland will face Portugal in the Davis Cup. More than ten thousand tickets have already been sold for the home match.
Nieminen says that with success the goals have been raised. We want to go to the finals of the Davis Cup again. Then any national team can fall in the tournament.
– The men’s long-term goal was to reach the final tournament. The goal has now risen. Of course, the goal was to win the whole thing (in 2023). The margins are small in both directions. The main thing is to focus on how to be better as a team.