Collignon Outlasts Vacherot to Reach Gstaad Last Four

Collignon grinds out a thriller against Vacherot

Belgian rising talent Raphaël Collignon continued his remarkable run at the EFG Swiss Open on Friday, defeating Valentin Vacherot 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 in a tightly contested quarter-final to claim his place in the Gstaad semi-finals. The 24-year-old Belgian, ranked at a career-high of No. 42, produced some of his most consistent tennis of the week to edge through a match that swung back and forth across all three sets.

Vacherot, returning to competitive action after a stress fracture and bone edema in his foot had wiped out his Roland Garros and Wimbledon campaigns, showed real resilience to take the second set and push the match deep. The Monégasque had already turned heads earlier in the week with a come-from-behind win over Yannick Hanfmann in the second round, and Friday showed he was no pushover despite the extended absence from competition. Ultimately, though, Collignon's superior groundstroke variety and freshness at the business end proved decisive.

A week that keeps getting better for Collignon

Collignon arrived in Gstaad on the back of a strong clay-court stretch that included a memorable victory over world No. 5 Ben Shelton at Roland Garros in May. In the Swiss Alps, he has backed that form up with a series of professional performances. He dismissed Lorenzo Sonego 7-6, 7-6 in the second round without ever looking troubled, and Friday's gritty three-set win over a genuinely competitive opponent reinforces the sense that he is no longer an occasional disruptor — he is a consistent performer at this level.

Reaching a career-high ranking of No. 42 earlier this week, Collignon is seeded at an ATP 250 tournament for the first time in his career and is proving he belongs. His game is built around a powerful first serve and an aggressive forehand that can compress rallies sharply. On the slower clay of Gstaad at altitude, those weapons are particularly effective.

Semi-final line-up takes shape in the Swiss Alps

Collignon joins Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Arthur Rinderknech in the Gstaad last four after a week of compelling results in the Swiss Alps. Cerundolo produced a stunning comeback against Casper Ruud — recovering from a lost first set to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 — while Rinderknech's earlier defeat of Stefanos Tsitsipas sent shockwaves through the top half of the draw.

Zverev survives ankle scare against Wu to stay on course in Shanghai

The semi-final draw will determine whether Collignon faces Cerundolo or Rinderknech, though either way the Belgian will arrive as the underdog against players with more tour-level pedigree. However, Collignon has shown all week that he is not deterred by rankings or reputations. His win over Shelton at Roland Garros was no fluke, and his level of play in Gstaad has been a continuation of the same confident, attacking mindset.

For Vacherot, the defeat is disappointing but comes with considerable mitigating context. Returning from a serious foot injury, he fought hard across three sets and showed that his clay-court game remains intact. The tournament in Gstaad will likely be remembered as a positive step in his recovery, even if the semi-finals ultimately proved one match too far.

Collignon's semi-final at the EFG Swiss Open is scheduled for Saturday, where the Belgian will look to reach a first ATP main-draw final of his career.