R.Collignon vs J.Cerundolo prediction
R.Collignon
J.Cerundolo
R.Collignon
Rafael has successfully advanced to the semi-finals in Gstaad through a win over Monaco's Vacherot, who has made a return to the tour after a foot injury. For the Belgian, the victory was anything but straightforward (7-6, 4-6, 7-5), stretched out over 2 hours and 13 minutes. Considering the altitude and fast clay in Switzerland, this match was a whirlwind. Besides sheer tenacity, the victory for the 42nd-ranked player in the world was thanks to 14 aces, 6 double faults by his opponent (though he made 8 himself), and an impressive 82% win rate on his first serve. Two crucial breaks, including the match-deciding one in the final game, were the icing on the cake in this duel of strong servers.
J.Cerundolo
Juan Manuel Cerundolo is on the brink of defending his ranking points and reaching the finals in Gstaad, much like the feat he accomplished last season. Today, the younger brother of Francisco defeated Casper Ruud for the second consecutive year in Switzerland, showing resolve and superior fitness to secure the victory despite being close to losing (3-6, 7-5, 6-2). His triumph was fueled by his ability to persevere after a shaky start, bagging four breaks and implementing an effective return game that saw him win 48% of second-serve points, coupled with a stellar first serve winning 83% of the points. Juan Manuel is geared up for the upcoming encounter with Belgian Collignon.
Prediction
It's worth mentioning that Juan Manuel loves playing against Rafael and does so adeptly, boasting a 3-0 lead in their head-to-heads. In each encounter, the Argentine emerged victorious in a tight 2-1 battle. Recently, they squared off on Eastbourne's grass (6-4, 4-6, 7-6) in June and on the clay in Bordeaux (5-7, 6-1, 7-6) in May. In all three matches, Juan Manuel maintained a positive lead. Given Cerundolo Junior's understanding of playing against Collignon's powerhouse serves, his incredible stamina, relentless fight for every point, superior defense, and sharp return game, I'm backing him to maintain his edge as a formidable underdog in their fourth meeting.
