Did Bublik Secure His 13th Tour-Level Final by Defeating Cazaux?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bublik reaches his 13th tour-level final.
- Dominated with 12 aces against Cazaux.
- Ranked No. 30 in ATP Live Rankings.
- Facing Cerundolo in the final.
- Maintained flawless set record in the tournament.
Gstaad, July 19 (NationPress) In an impressive display, Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan triumphed over Arthur Cazaux at the Swiss Open Gstaad, marking a significant career achievement on Saturday. This victory propelled him to his record-setting 13th tour-level final, making it his first appearance in a clay-court event in Switzerland.
The second seed exhibited exceptional skill during the semifinal, defeating Cazaux with scores of 6-1, 7-5, and maintaining an unblemished set record at the ATP 250 event held on clay. Bublik's performance was highlighted by an impressive 35 winners in a match lasting just 73 minutes.
“Surprisingly, I have been winning every match in two sets, but before the tournament, I was not convinced on court,” Bublik humorously remarked after improving his ATP head-to-head record against Cazaux to 2-0. “Tennis is tennis; we play in all conditions: Rain, sun, wind… We must adapt, and clay is one of those surfaces.”
Bublik showcased his dominance throughout the match, particularly behind his serve, firing 12 aces and winning 87 percent (33/38) of his first-serve points, as noted by Infosys ATP Stats.
Climbing up four positions to rank No. 30 in the ATP Live Rankings, Bublik is set to return to the Top 30 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since last year on Monday. His remarkable ascent is underscored by his quarterfinal achievements at Roland Garros and his recent title win in Halle.
As he pursues his sixth ATP Tour title, Bublik will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the final on Sunday. Cerundolo achieved a remarkable victory against World No. 13 Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and continued his momentum by defeating Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse with a score of 6-3, 6-3 under challenging conditions.
“Today was too windy; I think the key was to play with the wind,” Cerundolo stated, reflecting on his performance. This will be his first ATP Tour final since claiming the Cordoba title in his tour-level debut back in 2021. “When facing the wind, I varied my game to maintain serve, and when the wind was in my favor, I applied more spin because the ball bounces really high. That was crucial.”
By securing his personal-best eighth tour-level win of the season, Cerundolo has climbed 28 spots to No. 81 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He is set to re-enter the Top 100 for the first time since 2023 on Monday.