How Did Cerundolo Stage a Comeback Against Ruud in Gstaad Quarter-Final?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Cerundolo's remarkable comeback from 0-3 down in the final set.
- First Top 20 win for Cerundolo, boosting his rankings.
- Impressive performance by Ignacio Buse in reaching the semi-finals.
- Alexander Bublik's milestone of 10 clay-court victories this season.
- Excitement builds for the upcoming semi-finals.
Gstaad, July 18 (NationPress) – On Friday at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad, Juan Manuel Cerundolo achieved a remarkable victory, overcoming top seed and two-time champion Casper Ruud with a thrilling scoreline of 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
The Argentine, currently ranked No. 109 in the PIF ATP Rankings, executed an astonishing six-game comeback from being down 0-3 in the final set, defeating World No. 13 Ruud and advancing to the semi-finals of this ATP 250 tournament.
After starting strong, Cerundolo lost momentum in the second set and fell behind early in the final set. However, he regained control of the match with a surge in aggression and confidence.
“It was quite challenging. He was much more aggressive than I was, and he was easily leading the match. I stayed mentally strong, didn’t let it slip away, and came back at 0-3 with the wind at my back. Thanks to the wind and a few of his mistakes, it became 1-3,” Cerundolo shared in his post-match interview.
“Suddenly, it was 2-3, and when I was just one break behind, I started to feel my confidence returning and fought back. I became more assertive and hit harder. That was crucial to my comeback in the final set,” he added.
Cerundolo successfully converted six out of nine break points, as per Infosys ATP Stats, concluding Ruud's immaculate 10-0 record in Gstaad. This victory marks Cerundolo's first win against a Top 20 player, ensuring his return to the Top 100 for the first time since October 2023. As it stands, he has climbed 20 places to No. 89 in the live rankings, according to ATP.
In Saturday's semi-finals, Cerundolo will compete against fellow South American Ignacio Buse. The Peruvian qualifier continued his impressive journey by defeating Roman Andres Burruchaga with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, securing his spot in the semi-finals during just his second ATP Tour main draw appearance.
On the other hand, second seed Alexander Bublik progressed with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Francisco Comesana, achieving a personal milestone of 10 clay-court victories this season. Bublik will either face Arthur Cazaux or Swiss wild card Jerome Kym for a chance to reach the final.