Juan Manuel Cerundolo Ends Buse's Run and Reaches the Final in Gstaad

In Gstaad, the semifinals took center stage this Saturday. The first two players to step onto the court were South Americans. The first ticket to the final was contested between Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Peruvian Ignacio Buse, the breakout star of this tournament.

The world No. 167, the third player from his country to reach the semifinals of an ATP tournament in the 21st century after Luis Horna and Juan Pablo Varillas, faced the man who had already taken down Struff, Goffin, and Ruud earlier in the week.

Coming through qualifying, Buse may have paid the price physically for his efforts this week. Against Francisco Cerundolo’s younger brother, the 21-year-old didn’t have many chances to hurt his opponent. He failed to convert his only break point and wasn’t dominant enough on his own serve.

In the end, Juan Manuel Cerundolo secured the win in two tight sets (6-3, 6-3 in 1h22) and advanced to the final—his second on the ATP Tour after his triumph in Cordoba in 2021 against Albert Ramos-Viñolas.

The left-hander will face either Arthur Cazaux or Alexander Bublik as he bids for his second career title. As for Buse, the fairy tale run in the Swiss town comes to an end, but he can be proud of what he achieved this week.

After two rounds of qualifying, he defeated Djere, Majchrzak, and Burruchaga for his first three ATP Tour wins and continues his rise, now provisionally ranked No. 133 in the Live Rankings.