Swiss Open: Cerundolo sinks Ruud, top seed Bublik out on day of upsets in Gstaad
Gstaad, July 17
On an eventful day at the Swiss Open 2026 at Gstaad, the top three seeds failed to survive Friday's action as top seed Alexander Bublik, Casper Ruud, and Valentin Vacherot all suffered defeat in the ATP 250 event being played on clay in this Swiss town.
Quentin Halys overcame Bublik in three sets while Juan Manuel Cerundolo stunned Norwegian Casper Ruud, the second seed in the event.
Cerundolo, who rallied from two sets and a double break down to stun the physically struggling World No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros in May, rediscovered his penchant for a hard-earned upset by downing Ruud 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. The second-seeded Ruud led 4-2 in the second set, but was unable to prevent Cerundolo from completing an impressive quarter-final turnaround after two hours and 15 minutes.
"I put all my energy into trying to feel my best," Cerundolo said in his on-court interview. "He was beating me well. He was doing better and a break up with the wind in his favour. He made maybe two mistakes so that I could come back in the second set. The break point was unbelievable... Then I managed to win the game, and I started playing really well."
The No. 45 player in the ATP Rankings, Cerundolo, is the only player to have defeated Ruud in Gstaad, where he also prevailed against the 2021 and 2022 champion in the 2025 quarter-finals. The sixth-seeded Argentine will now prepare for a semi-final meeting with Belgium's Raphael Collignon, who earlier sank third seed Valentin Vacherot 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-5.
Meanwhile, Quentin Halys settled in quickly on the second day of his rain-interrupted meeting with top seed Alexander Bublik to notch an upset of his own on the Swiss mountain clay. The French World No. 90 returned to court serving at 5-6 in the deciding set of the pair's second-round clash and soon held firm for a 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(5) victory.
"Coming back at 5-6 in the third set, it was strange, but I think the level was really high from the side yesterday and even more today," Halys said. "I'm so pleased. He is such a good player, and he serves crazy well here with the conditions, so I'm so happy I managed to go through this match."
Halys won 92 per cent (46/50) of points behind his first serve against World No. 11 Bublik, according to Infosys ATP Stats. However, the 29-year-old was unable to back up his victory when he returned to court to face Aleksandr Shevchenko, who overcame home hope Dominic Stricker 7-6(5), 6-2 in another match suspended from Thursday evening, in the quarter-finals. Shevchenko triumphed 7-6(5), 6-3 to set a semi-final showdown with fourth seed Arthur Rinderknech or Stefanos Tsitsipas.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Ruud losing again in a tournament he's won twice before is strange. Maybe his game isn't suited to this slower surface anymore? But credit to Cerundolo, he fights like a tiger 🐯. That break point in the second set was the turning point. Tennis fans in India are loving these underdog stories!
Bublik losing to a qualifier is par for the course. He's so talented but mentally fragile. Halys played smart tennis though, 92% first serve points won is insane! But then Shevchenko beats him too—this tournament is wide open now. Tsitsipas must be licking his lips at this draw 🤔
While these upsets are fun, I think we need to remember Ruud is a class act. He was a break up in the second set and just lost focus. But the Argentinian clay-court spirit is real! Cerundolo's footwork on clay is something our Indian players could learn from. Good to see tennis growing beyond the usual suspects.
As a tennis fan from the US, it's wild seeing the top seeds all go down on the same day. Halys beating Bublik is massive for his confidence. But let's be honest, the real story is Cerundolo—he's becoming the ultimate giant killer on clay. That run at Roland Garros was no joke! Excited to see if he can go all the way here.
I follow tennis from India and honestly, these upsets make the sport more interesting! Earlier we only saw the same faces winning.
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