GSTAAD/WASHINGTON, July 20, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
Quentin Halys played smart and aggressive tennis, hitting the ball early against No. 5 seed Jan-Lennard Struff, throughout his semifinal match at the EFG Swiss Open in Gstaad Saturday afternoon. It’s a risk-taking formula that rewarded Halys with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory in an hour and 20 minutes and garnered him the appreciation of the crowd that filled Roy Emerson Arena.
The 192nd-ranked qualifier from France reached his first ATP Tour final with his straight-set victory over No. 37 Struff of Germany, who was seeking his fifth tour-level final – and second of the year after winning his first ATP Tour title earlier this season at Munich.
Halys won 86 percent of his first-serve points, which included 16 aces, and hit 37 overall winners. He saved all four break points he faced and outpointed Struff 74-61.
FIRST ATP Tour final 🙌@QuentinHalys takes out Struff 6-3 7-6 to reach the first tour level final of his career 👏@SwissOpenGstaad | #SwissOpenGstaad pic.twitter.com/CZC8nACmH1
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 20, 2024
“I was serving so great today, hitting the ball so well,” Halys said in his on-court interview after securing his eighth tour-level win of the season. “From the beginning to the end, I didn’t miss many shots. The feeling is just unreal. I’m happy to be in a final for the first time.”
Halys improved to 7-29 versus Top 50 players – 2-9 on clay – and his live ranking heading into Sunday’s title match will rise to No. 125. The loss by Struff snapped a seven-match winning streak against players ranked outside the Top 100.
Started in the qualies now we’re here 😮💨
Qualifier @QuentinHalys reaches his maiden ATP Tour level final in Gstaad, defeating Struff 6-3 7-6!#ATPGstaad pic.twitter.com/IjsMRNAXFu
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 20, 2024
It’s been a rewarding week in the Swiss Alps for Halys, a 27-year-old native of Bondy, France. He’s strung together four straight wins in the main draw (after winning a pair of qualifying matches) while dropping only one set along the journey. His main-draw wins have come against fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Lukas Klein of Slovakia, Gustavo Heide of Brazil and Struff.
Next, Halys will face No. 6 seed Matteo Berrettini of Italy, whom he actually beat nine years ago in an ITF futures match on clay in Italy. In Saturday’s second semifinal, Berrettini eliminated top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, 7-6 (6), 7-5, in one hour and 42 minutes to reach his eighth career ATP Tour final on clay.
Third #ATPGstaad finals for @MattBerrettini 🇮🇹 after a huge battle against @steftsitsipas 🇬🇷 7:6 7:5 !!
We are excited for tomorrow’s finals against @QuentinHalys #ATP #ATPGstaad #ATP250 #EFG @federtennis
📷 Fabian Meierhans pic.twitter.com/92g6t00l5l— EFG Swiss Open Gstaad (@SwissOpenGstaad) July 20, 2024
The 82nd-ranked Berrettini dropped just five points on his first serve, hit 27 winners, made only four unforced errors and did not face any break points. The 2018 Gstaad titlist outpointed the World No. 12 Tsitsipas 82-66.
“It’s going to be a great match tomorrow,” Halys said. “We are from the same generation. I’m going to enjoy my time. I will have to play my best to have a chance to win.”
