Raphael Collignon continued the best run of his career Saturday by advancing to the final of the Swiss Open in Gstaad with an impressive victory over Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

The Belgian played staged an incredible comeback – saving a match point – in his 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory – earning a place in his first ATP Tour final and moving within one victory of capturing the biggest title of his professional career. He trailed 6-1, 5-3 and saved a match point and also came back from 5-2 down in the final set.

Cerundolo was, of course, part of an even more epic collapse, but on the winning side at Roland Garros, where he trailed top seed Jannik Sinner by two sets to love and 5-1 in the third set, but benefitted from Sinner’s physical collapse and won the match in five sets.

For Cerundolo, the defeat was naturally disappointing after another strong week on the clay courts of Gstaad. However, the timing of the loss does come with one small silver lining.

Instead of preparing for Sunday’s championship match in Switzerland, the Argentine can now join millions of his countrymen in focusing entirely on the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where Argentina will attempt to add another chapter to its rich soccer history. Tennis and football have long shared a special connection in Argentina, with many of the nation’s top players proudly supporting La Albiceleste during major international tournaments.

Collignon, meanwhile, has earned the spotlight on the ATP Tour. The Belgian has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the week, defeating quality opponents with confident baseline play and mental toughness. His run to the final is expected to provide a significant boost to both his ATP ranking and his confidence heading into the North American hard-court season.

Sunday now presents a career-defining opportunity for Collignon. After eliminating Cerundolo, he stands just one victory away from lifting his maiden ATP Tour trophy in the picturesque Swiss Alps.

As for Cerundolo, the disappointment of falling short in Gstaad may soon give way to the excitement of cheering on Argentina in one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Sometimes, even after a tough tennis loss, another passion is waiting just around the corner.

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