Stefanos Tsitsipas books first Gstaad final in 16 months
Stefanos Tsitsipas booked his first ATP Tour final in 16 months by beating Aleksandr Shevchenko 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad semi-finals. The former world No. 3 faces first-time finalist Raphael Collignon on Sunday in their maiden meeting after a third straight three-set win.
Key Takeaways
- Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Aleksandr Shevchenko 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach his first ATP Tour final in 16 months.
- The Greek star will face Raphael Collignon, a first-time ATP finalist, in Sunday's Gstaad title match.
- Collignon saved a match point and rallied from 2-5 down in the decider to beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.
- Tsitsipas is chasing a 13th tour-level title and his first since Dubai in March 2025.
- The final will be the first career meeting between Tsitsipas and Collignon.
How Did Stefanos Tsitsipas Reach the Gstaad Final?
On Saturday at the clay-court ATP 250 in the Swiss Alps, Stefanos Tsitsipas closed out Shevchenko in one hour and 53 minutes. It was his third consecutive three-set win of the week and put the 27-year-old into his 31st career final.
World No. 85 Tsitsipas struck 13 of his 20 forehand winners in the deciding set. Serving for the match at 5-3, he finished with successive forehand winners down opposite sidelines.
"It was a great fight against Aleksandr," Tsitsipas said. "I think we played an incredible match on both sides."
He also praised the altitude effect in Gstaad, saying the thinner air amplifies his weapons once he adapts to the different bounce. That edge showed late as Shevchenko double-faulted on break point to hand Tsitsipas a 5-3 lead in the third set.
Who Is Waiting for Tsitsipas in the Title Match?
Seventh-seeded Belgian Raphael Collignon reached his first ATP Tour final by surviving a dramatic semi against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Collignon saved a match point serving at 3-5 in the second set, then edged the tie-break 7-5 before storming back from 2-5 down in the third, winning five games in a row for a 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 win in two hours and 26 minutes.
Collignon becomes only the second Belgian to reach the Gstaad final after David Goffin in 2015. His breakthrough run lifted him five places to No. 37 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, guaranteeing a new career high on Monday.
Cerundolo had arrived with recent Grand Slam pedigree after surprising world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros last month, making Collignon's comeback even more striking on Swiss clay.
Why Does This Final Matter for Stefanos Tsitsipas?
The former world No. 3 and 12-time tour-level champion is back in a final for the first time since lifting the Dubai trophy in March 2025. It is also his first clay-court final since the 2024 Barcelona title match, adding urgency to a season rebuild at altitude as he hunts a 13th career title.
"We've both had long matches, so we both really want it," Tsitsipas said of facing Collignon. "Whenever it's a final you want to give it your all. I want to get out there and take the court by storm."
For more trending sports and culture coverage across our desks, see Future Tech & AI Wonders on BlasterPost. Sky Sports lists the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad final for Sunday, with Tsitsipas and Collignon set for their first meeting on Alpine clay.