Swiss Open Gstaad Day Four Round-Up | Stefanos Tsitsipas wins deciding tie-break, Ruud escapes upset bid, as Bublik-Halys suspended by rain
ATPFriday, 17 July 2026 at 11:54
Day four at the Gstaad Open delivered a dramatic mix of comebacks, deciding sets and rain interruptions, with several top names forced to fight for their place in the next round. Casper Ruud survived a major scare against qualifier Jaime Faria, recovering from a difficult start to eventually advance in three sets, while Stefanos Tsitsipas also needed a deciding-set tie-break to overcome Jerome Kym after a lengthy rain delay.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo also produced one of the biggest wins of the day, completing a comeback against Miomir Kecmanovic in a tight three-set battle. Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik and Quentin Halys were locked in another closely contested encounter before rain interrupted the match late in the deciding set, leaving their quarterfinal spot still undecided.
Ruud survives major scare from qualifier Faria
Jaime Faria 7-6, 4-6, 2-6 Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud avoided one of the biggest surprises of the Gstaad Open so far after recovering from a difficult start against qualifier Jaime Faria. The Norwegian, one of the tournament favourites on clay, struggled to impose his usual rhythm during the opening set as Faria showed impressive confidence from the baseline. The Portuguese qualifier matched Ruud's intensity and continued to create pressure, eventually forcing a tie-break and taking the early advantage.
Ruud found himself in serious trouble against an opponent ranked well outside the top positions, but the former world No. 2 responded with the experience expected from a player who has reached multiple Grand Slam finals. The Norwegian gradually improved his consistency, reduced his errors and began controlling longer rallies.
After levelling the match with a 6-4 second set, Ruud took full control in the decider. The top seed raised his level when it mattered most, winning the final set 6-2 to complete the comeback and secure his place in the quarterfinals.
The victory keeps Ruud's strong record on clay alive, although he was forced to spend much more time on court than expected against the inspired qualifier.
Ruud has already won the Bastad Open title twice (2021, 2022).
Tsitsipas survives Kym thriller after deciding-set battle
Jerome Kym 4-6, 7-6, 6-7 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a dramatic challenge from Swiss wildcard Jerome Kym in one of the most entertaining matches of the day at Gstaad.
The Greek started strongly, taking the opening set 6-4 after finding the decisive moments under pressure. However, Kym refused to let the match slip away and continued attacking aggressively, pushing Tsitsipas into uncomfortable positions throughout the second set.
The Swiss player held his nerve in the second-set tie-break to force a deciding set, giving the home crowd hope of another big upset.
The final set was a battle of small margins, with neither player able to create separation. Rain interrupted play with the match still undecided, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already tense contest.
When play resumed, Tsitsipas managed to maintain his composure in the deciding tie-break. The former world No. 3 delivered when the pressure increased, escaping with a hard-fought victory and advancing after a marathon battle.
Tsitsipas achieved consecutive victories for the first time in three months. The last time he had done so was at the Madrid Open, where he reached the round of 16.
Cerundolo completes comeback against Kecmanovic
Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 Miomir Kecmanovic
Juan Manuel Cerundolo produced a strong comeback performance to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic in a tightly contested three-set battle. Kecmanovic made the stronger start, taking control of the opening exchanges and securing the first set 6-3. However, Cerundolo responded immediately, improving his level and using his left-handed game to disrupt the Serbian's rhythm.
The Argentine levelled the match with a 6-3 second set, setting up a deciding set where neither player was able to create a clear advantage. The final moments became a test of composure, with Cerundolo eventually winning the decisive tie-break to complete the comeback.
The victory gives Cerundolo an important win against a higher-ranked opponent and sends him into the next round in Gstaad.
Read also
Bublik and Halys battle suspended with Kazakh one game away
Alexander Bublik 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-5 Quentin Halys (suspended)
Alexander Bublik and Quentin Halys will have to wait until Friday to complete their second-round clash in Gstaad after rain interrupted the match late in the deciding set.
The Kazakh took a tightly contested opening set, where neither player managed to create a break point opportunity before the tie-break. Bublik raised his level in the breaker, using his aggression from the baseline and powerful first serve to build a double mini-break advantage and close out the set 7-6(4).
Halys responded strongly after the delay, staying patient in the longer rallies and finally finding the opening he needed in the second set. After keeping the pressure on Bublik's serve, the Frenchman converted his chance late in the set to level the match and force a deciding set.
The final set remained another serving battle, with neither player able to create separation. Bublik continued to rely on his serve and aggressive style, while Halys remained composed under pressure to stay alive.
The Kazakh eventually moved ahead 6-5 and was only one game away from victory when rain interrupted play once again. Halys was preparing to serve at 15-0 when the latest delay arrived, forcing the suspension of the match. With no lights available at the venue and the local time approaching 8pm, the match was unable to resume.
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