GSTAAD, Switzerland (Reuters) – Stefanos Tsitsipas ended a 16-month final drought on Saturday, defeating Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 7-6(5) to reach the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad final. The world No. 85 will face Quentin Halys for the title.
The match was a grind. Tsitsipas fired a flurry of forehand winners, saving three break points in the second set. Weather delays stretched the semifinal over two hours.
“I felt the relief,” Tsitsipas said after the match, per Tennis Now. “It’s been a long road back.”
The Greek star’s last final was the 2025 Australian Open. Since then, ranking drops and early exits defined his season. His Gstaad run marks his first ATP final of 2026.
Tsitsipas’s game showed tactical shifts. He relied on aggressive baseline play, hitting 32 winners. His first-serve percentage dipped to 58%, but he won 78% of points behind it.
Halys, ranked No. 62, reached the final with a straight-sets win over Jan-Lennard Struff. The Frenchman holds a 1-0 head-to-head edge over Tsitsipas, winning on clay in 2024.
Key match-up data for the final:
| Category | Tsitsipas | Halys |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 85 | 62 |
| Aces in semis | 8 | 12 |
| Break points saved | 3/3 | 4/5 |
| Clay win rate 2026 | 12-8 | 10-6 |
Tsitsipas’s serving stats show improvement. In Gstaad, he won 82% of first-serve points, up from his season average of 74%. His return game remains shaky—winning just 33% of return points.
“He’s playing with more freedom,” Sky Sports commentator Mark Petchey noted. “But consistency is the question mark.”
The final carries ranking implications. A title win would vault Tsitsipas to No. 62. A runner-up finish lifts him to 70. Both would secure direct entry into the US Open main draw.
Tsitsipas’s peak form—2023 Australian Open runner-up, 2024 Monte Carlo champion—remains distant. His current level suggests a temporary spike, not a full return.
Watch the final live on Sky Sports. Live scores are available on the ATP app.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: When was Stefanos Tsitsipas’s last ATP final before Gstaad?
- A: His last final was the 2025 Australian Open, over 16 months ago.
- Q: Who will Stefanos Tsitsipas face in the Gstaad final?
- A: He will face Quentin Halys, ranked No. 62, who defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets.
- Q: What key tactical changes did Tsitsipas show in Gstaad?
- A: He relied on aggressive baseline play, hit 32 winners, and improved his first-serve points won to 82%, up from his season average of 74%.
Extended Reading
Richard Pagliaro’s full match report is available at Tennis Now. ATP Tour quotes sourced from the official site.