GSTAAD/WASHINGTON, July 18, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been down on his luck through much of the 2026 season. It seems, every time the 27-year-old Greek star moves two steps forward he always takes one step backward.
Six years removed from rising to World No. 3 in the ATP Rankings – and with six Grand Slam semifinals to his credit, including runs to the 2021 Roland-Garros and 2023 Australian Open finals – Tsitsipas finds himself now ranked No. 85, the result of a combination of chronic back injuries, off-court emotional distractions, plus an unstable coaching situation.
However, this week, Tsitsipas has found himself and his game in the Swiss Alps – and he’s through to his first ATP Tour final of 2026. First the first time in quite a while, Tsitsipas seems to be enjoying himself on the tennis court.
After beating No. 100 Aleksandr Shevchenko of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the semifinal round of the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad on Roy Emerson Arena Saturday, Tsitsipas has reached his 31st tour-level final – and first one since defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime at Dubai in 2025. Also, it’s his 14th ATP Tour final on clay – but only his first since losing to Casper Ruud two years ago at Barcelona. He’s also the first Greek player to reach the Gstaad final.
Take it all in, Stef 👏@stefanos is through to his 31st Tour-level after a brilliant three set victory against Shevchenko in Gstaad! @SwissOpenGstaad | #SwissOpenGstaad pic.twitter.com/T1uU7MOmm6
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 18, 2026
On Sunday, Tsitsipas will face the only seeded player remaining in the ATP 250-series clay-court event, seventh-seeded Raphael Collignon of Belgium. Earlier, the 42nd-ranked Collignon rallied to defeat No. 6 seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5.
Against Shevchenko, whom he outpointed 83-72, Tsitsipas struck 22 winners to offset 23 unforced errors, won 81 percent (35 of 43) of his first-serve points, and was broken just once. He converted two of nine break points, including in the eighth game of the final set to go ahead 5-3. Tsitsipas served out the victory with a clean forehand winner on match point to improve to 21-15 this season.
It seems like a huge weight has been lifted off Tsitsipas’ shoulders, considering what he’s been through this year. It’s been a season marred by confrontations with his father, Apostolos, whom he dismissed as his coach in order to seek a different dynamic and to have the ability to start making his own decisions.
“Be careful what you wish for,” Tsitsipas said during his on-court interview after reaching his first Gstaad final. “It was a great fight against Aleksandr. I think we played an incredible match from both sides. It’s unfortunate there has to be a winner at the end. Both of us deserved victory, both of us played incredible tennis. I’d like to congratulate him one on such an incredible effort today.”
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Looking ahead to facing Collignon, in what will be their first meeting, Tsitsipas said he looks forward to the challenge as he chases after his 13th career title. “We’ve both had long matches [today], so we both really want it. We’ve come to the end, just the two of us. I think no one wants to go out there and not give it their all. So, I’m not expecting anything except a big battle. … Whenever you’re in the final, you want to give it your all, one last breath. I want to get out there and take the court by storm.”
Collignon overcomes Cerundolo to reach first ATP Tour final
Raphael Collignon focused on his game from first ball to last, never getting too down on himself. Twice, he turned his Swiss Open semifinal against No. 6 seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo around Saturday afternoon in the Swiss Alps – and even saved a match point during the journey.
By the end of the last-four match, the seventh-seeded Belgian won – against all odds – and advanced to his first ATP Tour final. The 42nd-ranked Collignon rallied from a set and a break down to overcome No. 45 Cerundolo, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, in two hours and 26 minutes on Roy Emerson Arena.
A battle today, A final tomorrow 🔥
Collignon defeats Cerundolo 1-6 7-6 7-5 and books a place into his first ATP Tour final!#SwissOpenGstaad pic.twitter.com/vsD6crby76
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 18, 2026
Collignon broke the Argentine’s serve twice in the final set, at 3-5, and again at 5-5. Then, on his first match-point opportunity – after saving a match point while trailing 3-5 in the second set – the 24-year-old Collignon, once down and out, hit an overhead smash winner to cap a three-shot rally. He had completed a masterful comeback against the highest seed remaining in the ATP 250-series tournament on red clay.
“I was very lucky,” Collignon said during his on-court interview, after achieving his third Top-50 victory on clay – and second one this week. “I think this time it was for me because I had lost over the years three times [to Juan Manuel]. For once, it turned my way and I’m very happy to be in the final.”
By the conclusion, Collignon finished with seven aces and 26 winners overall – including 23 from his forehand side. He won 74 percent (43 of 58) of his first-serve points, saved four of eight break points and converted three of seven break-point opportunities. He was outpointed by Cerundolo 101-96.
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Collignon (now 15-9 this season) became just the second Belgian to reach the Gstaad final – and first one in 11 years – after David Goffin in 2015. He also secured a new career-high ranking on Monday. With his semifinal win, he’s up to No. 37 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. With a title victory on Sunday, he’s could rise to No. 35.
“I didn’t want to play him,” added Collignon, who lost a three-setter on grass at Eastbourne earlier this summer and twice more on the ATP Challenger Tour circuit. “When I saw he won, I was a bit miffed because I had lost three times. [This time] we changed our game. I tried to mix things up, to come to the net, to serve a bit better. I’m very happy I did that at the end of the match. Let’s see about tomorrow.”
When Collignon was asked to look ahead to Sunday’s final, not knowing who would be his opponent, he said: “I will focus on myself, to be aggressive, to serve well and play my game. I know when I’m doing this, I put energy into my serve and can be tough to beat.”
For all the marbles in Gstaad.@stefanos 🏆 @RaphCollignon @SwissOpenGstaad | #SwissOpenGstaad pic.twitter.com/fMYqazorNN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 18, 2026
Around the Roy Emerson Arena
No. 1 seeds Lucas Miedler of Austria and Marc Polmans of Australia advanced to Sunday’s doubles final after completing a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Jakub Paul of Switzerland and Robert Seggerman of the United States in 56 minutes on Court 1. The winners saved the only break point they faced and outpointed their opponents 53-40.
In the title match, Miedler and Polmans will face Marcelo Demoliner of Brazil and Robert Galloway of the United States, who rallied to beat Sander Gille of Belgium and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-5, in one hour and 40 minutes on Court 1. Demoliner and Galloway outpointed their opponents 79-67.
Saturday’s EFG Swiss Open results
Sunday’s EFG Swiss Open order of play
By the numbers
Raphael Collignon is just 11th different Belgian man to reach an ATP Tour singles final in the Open Era. Others include: David Goffin (15), Xavier Matisse (12), Olivier Rochus (10), Steve Darcis and Zizou Bergs (3), Filip Dewulf, Christophe Rochus and Kristof Vliegen (2), and Eduardo Masso and Bernard Mignot (1).
“Quotable …”
“Lack of oxygen. You have to have lots of extra oxygen. It’s difficult here. It’s not easy the first couple of days here after you arrive. I was at sea level back home in Monte Carlo. Now, up here in the mountains, it takes time to adapt to the bounces. The ball bounces differently. I think it amplifies my game. The altitude improves my best shots, makes them hop a little bit more. Those who have big serves, it gives them a little extra kick.”
– Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, during his on-court interview Saturday, explaining the challenges that playing altitude tennis in Gstaad presents.
