Geneva Open Semifinals Round-up | Learner Tien survives Bublik epic, as Navone stuns Casper Ruud

The Geneva Open semifinals delivered two contrasting high-intensity matches defined by momentum swings and late-stage pressure. Mariano Navone produced a straight-sets upset over three-time champion Casper Ruud, while Learner Tien survived a dramatic deciding-set tiebreak against Alexander Bublik after the Kazakh saved multiple match points.

Navone controlled key phases of a 7-5, 6-2 win after overturning early deficits and repeatedly disrupting Ruud’s rhythm from the baseline, booking a place in his fourth ATP final. In parallel, Tien overcame a major late scare in a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 victory, closing out the match in a tense tiebreak after Bublik pushed the contest to the limit with a late surge.

Mariano Navone produced a statement win on clay to defeat three-time Geneva champion Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-2 and reach the Geneva Open final. The Argentine absorbed early pressure, overturned a set deficit in the opener, and progressively took control of baseline exchanges to complete a straight-sets upset.

Ruud started the match with authority, racing through the opening points and building a 2-0 lead after winning eight consecutive points. However, the momentum shifted quickly when Navone broke back to love, disrupting the Norwegian’s rhythm and preventing him from establishing early command of the match.

The first set developed into a sequence of rapid swings. Ruud recovered from 2-4 down to lead 5-4, but Navone responded with three consecutive games, breaking again to move ahead 6-5 before serving out the set 7-5. The Argentine’s ability to reset after momentum shifts proved decisive in a physically demanding opening set.

In the second set, Navone immediately imposed pressure again with an early break, only for Ruud to respond instantly. From 1-1, Navone broke once more and consolidated for a 3-1 lead, gradually stretching the rallies and drawing more errors from the Norwegian’s forehand side. He later secured a second break to move 5-2 ahead and closed the match 6-2, saving two break points before converting his first match point to complete a controlled finish to a volatile contest.

Learner Tien produced a composed but physically and mentally stretched performance to defeat Alexander Bublik 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 in a dramatic Geneva Open encounter decided in a final-set tiebreak. The American led for large portions of the match but was forced to withstand a late surge from Bublik, who saved up to five match points before eventually falling.

Tien initially imposed himself with a near-flawless opening set, before Bublik responded with a sharp tactical adjustment in the second set. The decider then became a sequence of rapid momentum swings, with both players holding serve under increasing pressure as the match tightened into a high-stakes finish.

The American’s strongest early passage came in the opening set, where he won 12 of the first 16 points and broke immediately to establish control. He built a double-break lead at 5-1 and closed out the set 6-1, winning 10 consecutive points at one stage as Bublik struggled to find rhythm and consistency on serve.

Bublik, however, gradually re-entered the contest in the second set, breaking early in the third set decider after levelling the match 6-4. From there, the Kazakh’s aggressive serving and willingness to shorten points put Tien under sustained pressure, forcing the American to repeatedly defend his service games until the set reached a decisive tiebreak, where Tien eventually closed out a tense finish after surviving multiple match point saves from Bublik.