Gstaad Open Quarter-Finals Round-Up | Stefanos Tsitsipas returns to semifinals as Ruud and Vacherot suffer surprises
ATPFriday, 17 July 2026 at 20:03
The quarter-final action at the Swiss Open Gstaad delivered a dramatic day of tennis, with Casper Ruud suffering another early exit on clay after a three-set battle against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Norwegian looked on course after taking the opening set, but Cerundolo produced a strong comeback to claim one of the biggest wins of his season.
The day also saw Quentin Halys complete his interrupted battle against Alexander Bublik after the match had been suspended on Thursday. Halys returned twice to court before finally securing the victory, while Alexander Shevchenko and Stefanos Tsitsipas also booked their places in the semi-finals.
Shevchenko defeats Halys after dramatic day for Frenchman
Alexander Shevchenko def. Quentin Halys 7-6, 6-3.
Quentin Halys had one of the busiest days in Gstaad, beginning with the conclusion of his interrupted battle against Alexander Bublik. The Frenchman stepped back onto court in the morning needing to overturn a difficult situation after Bublik had moved ahead 6-5 in the deciding set before rain stopped play on Thursday.
Halys only played a few minutes against Bublik. He held his serve to send the match to a tiebreak, where he grew stronger to reach the quarterfinals. Despite the demanding schedule, hours later the Frenchman put Shevchenko under pressure in a hard-fought first set, forcing a tiebreak after neither player managed to create a break point.
Shevchenko handled the pressure better in the breaker, taking the opening set 7-6(4), and finally found the decisive breakthrough in the second set. The Kazakh secured the only break of the match and moved ahead 5-3 before serving out the victory.
Halys fought until the final points, saving multiple match points from return, but Shevchenko remained composed to close out the 7-6(4), 6-3 victory and reach the semifinals in Gstaad. The result sets up a semifinal clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who overcame Arthur Rinderknech later in the day.
Read also
Tsitsipas survives Rinderknech test to reach semifinals
Stefanos Tsitsipas secured another important victory on clay in Gstaad, but the Greek was forced to fight through a difficult three-set battle against Arthur Rinderknech before booking his place in the semifinals.
Tsitsipas made the stronger start, finding the only break of the opening set and maintaining control behind his serve to take the first set 6-3. The former world No. 3 was particularly effective on his first serve, winning 80% of points behind that shot throughout the match, which allowed him to remain solid in the key moments.
However, Rinderknech responded immediately in the second set, raising his level and putting more pressure on Tsitsipas’ service games. The Frenchman found the breakthrough he needed and converted his opportunity to level the match at one set apiece with a 6-3 second set.
The deciding set remained competitive, but Tsitsipas regained control when it mattered most. The Greek created more pressure from the baseline and found the decisive break to move ahead, eventually closing out a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory. Tsitsipas finished the match with two breaks of serve, while Rinderknech managed just one.
With the win, Tsitsipas reaches the Gstaad semifinals, where he will face Alexander Shevchenko as he continues his search for confidence and momentum.
Cerundolo completes comeback to stun Ruud
Juan Manuel Cerundolo produced one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by eliminating second seed Casper Ruud in a three-set battle.
Ruud appeared in control after taking the opening set 6-3, but Cerundolo responded strongly and refused to let the Norwegian dictate the pace. The Argentine raised his level in the crucial moments of the second set, recovering the momentum and forcing a deciding set.
Once the match entered the final set, Cerundolo dominated the closing stages. He continued attacking and took advantage of Ruud’s drop in level to win the decider 6-2 and complete a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 comeback victory.
The result ends Ruud’s run in Gstaad and sends Cerundolo into the semifinals, where he will face Raphael Collignon.
Casper Ruud won Gstaad title back in 2021 and 2022.
Collignon survives Vacherot thriller
Raphael Collignon continued his impressive week in Switzerland after surviving a dramatic quarterfinal against Valentin Vacherot. The Belgian took the opening set after a tense tie-break, but Vacherot responded immediately by improving his level and forcing a deciding set after winning the second set 6-4.
The final set remained extremely close, with neither player able to create separation until the closing stages. Collignon eventually found the breakthrough at the perfect moment, breaking late to secure a 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-5 victory and reach the semifinals.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Wow!! Haven't seen a Volley-A-Thon like that in a long time. This Bejlik girl has some great stuff. Iga got a hell of a workout.
mandoist04-08-2026 - Yes, "so cruel". It's so bad she's been forced to "train" at an exclusive resort in St. Moritz, Switzerland.mandoist04-08-2026
- Writer states: "These different brands have slight differences that the players need to get used to" That is the dumbest F-ing thing I've heard in quite some time. A sports fan (I assume a fan) telling the World's Top Players they are, essentially, full of shit.mandoist02-08-2026
- No Final today. 200% Humidity.mandoist02-08-2026
- Pro Sports is still pretending the Climate is not going to be a physical health factor -- getting hotter and more debilitating for animals and Humans. Well, it's not whether the climate is "going to" get hotter... IT IS ALREADY HERE!! Sport governing bodies and venues are -- and have been -- disregarding the warnings regarding the Future temperatures when it comes to outdoor events and potential injury (or even death) of fans & athletes alike. Are these financially greedy entities intentionally pretending Climate Change is not happening? Or merely gambling with their own futures, as well as the athletes' health and futures as well? It is time to pay attention to the warming trend and be empathetic toward their money-makers (athletes) -- not PATHETIC.mandoist29-07-2026
- CORRECTION Required: Jannik is WORLD NO. 1 and not 2. "The same can be said for Sinner and Djokovic. The """"World No.2""""" cited health reasons for not going, preserving his body for the Cincinnati Open ahead of the important US Open. If he was set to participate in both, it would be a lot of tennis with him likely to win both tournaments ahead of the trip to Flushing Meadows."J29-07-2026
- That does not sound very healthy
AceOfBase29-07-2026 - Interesting to see and watch the son of a great tennis player. Will he get better than his dad, or not :-)AceOfBase29-07-2026
- What clear-thinking player at the top of the field needs to Double-up with Ranking No. 469??mandoist27-07-2026
- It's refreshing to see a young and evolving player with enough intelligence to not fall for this 'Williams Charade'. Too bad the WTA -- and all the phony insiders -- cannot be Honest about No. 469 and put a stop to it. WTA has Qualifiers for a reason!!mandoist27-07-2026
Loading