Argentine outsider spoils perfect Ruud record

Casper Ruud suffered a third-set collapse and Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo took full advantage to hand the two-time champion his first loss at the ATP Swiss Open Gstaad on Friday.

The South American outsider will move a a top 10 ranking after his 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 defeat of the Norwegian top seed, with Ruud having won title at this alpine village in 2021 and 2-22.

But there was no chance of a repeat for Ruud, playing for the first time in six weeks after missing the grass season through injury.

The 26-year-old Scandinavian inexplicably let loose of a 3-0 double-break lead in the deciding set, with his 23-year-old opponent ranked 109 slowly closing the gap.

The South American who won the Cordoba title earned the biggest win of his career with his upset of Ruud, who was burdened with 42 unforced errors in defeat.

Cerundolo who has a top 10 win his season over Felix Auger-Aliassime spun off six consecutive games to clinch the victory after just over two hours.

Ruud dropped the opening set but turned the tables in the second and looked on his way as he played for the first time since a Roland Garros second-round defeat.

“It was a really tough match, he was more aggressive than me,” the winner said.

“But I stayed strong and mentally did not let the match go. I got some help at 3-0 from the wind and he made some errors.

“I started feeling confident and could battle more, I was hitt more aggressive and harder.

“The most important thing was playing well and being aggressive.”

Cerundolo will face off in a final against a fellow South American unknown when he plays Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Busi.