EFG Swiss Open Gstaad 2026: When Tennis Becomes a Lifestyle in the Swiss Alps
- il y a 2 jours
- 3 min de lecture
Every July, the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad transforms one of Switzerland’s most exclusive alpine destinations into the beating heart of international tennis. Here, the sport extends beyond the court, becoming part of the village’s lifestyle, where world-class competition unfolds against a backdrop of charming chalets and breathtaking mountain scenery.
Tennis is a sport of strength and precision, of endurance and mental resilience, it tends to be best appreciated by those in the know. It has its recurring weekend of fame in Wimbledon, then gets handed back to well-informed aficionados. What we witnessed in Gstaad this July, however, was something rather different. Far from being a sport for the initiated, tennis had turned into a lifestyle, seamlessly integrated into the daily routine of this rather swanky mountain village.
The stadium was so snugly nestled between the chalets that line the high street, it looked as if it had been dropped there from above on a parachute, having gently glided down until it found its perfect resting place. It was hard to say who had the honour of being associated with whom: whether Gstaad was lucky to have the tournament in its midst, or whether the tournament should have been grateful to Gstaad for being held there. All we know is that together, they packed a punch.
Passion vs. precision on the tennis court
The morning of the semifinals particularly caught our attention at Luxe Magazine. The first set saw two opponents of nearly identical age and ATP ranking face each other, the Belgian Raphael Collignon and the Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
As if to highlight their similar rankings, except for the first set they were constantly neck-to-neck. Cerundolo managed to be slightly in the lead most of the time, but Collignon made it a habit to fight back just at the right moment, eventually going on to win 1-6, 7-6, 7-5. Having spent nearly the whole match a few points away from defeat, in the crucial instants he unleashed a force that was something to reckon with, holding the stadium in awe at the sheer strength and passion on display.
The whole confrontation really was decided by a few key points. Cerundolo had control, technique and consistency on his side, while Collignon was entirely powered by resilience and staggering might. Precision vs. passion, that’s what it was. Thanks to his mental and physical strength, Collignon managed to pull momentum to his side when it most mattered, and in the end unleashed a series of killer serves that left everybody astounded. As time passed, he became stronger, not weaker, as if he were sucking in energy from the pastures surrounding him.
It was such a joy to watch, a true game of superlatives. The sheer number of crucial
points decided on a cliffhanger gave it suspense by the bucketload. Thus, on the morning of Saturday the 18 th of July, these two players, who aren’t even the world’s most prominent, delivered one of the most riveting tennis spectacles in recent memory.
The crowd, for its part, did not trail behind. It was enthusiastic, endearing even, cheering the players on while enjoying every bit of the show in front of them. A show it was indeed, and a pleasure to be there, even someone who had never heard about tennis would have enjoyed it. And that, we believe, is the biggest compliment one can make to a sports match.
As we left the stadium, we found ourselves smack in the centre of the village again, flanked by chalets with a formidable number of flower-studded balconies and windowsills. As high as emotions were running inside the stadium just a few minutes before, out on the high street the ambience was relaxed, pleasant and unhurried. The essence of the Swiss summer, we are tempted to say.
Enrico Börger
Patricia Holdener
Editor-In-Chief
Luxe Magazine Switzerland
EFG Swiss Open Gstaad
Gstaad
ATP 250
Swiss Alps
Tennis Switzerland
Luxury travel Switzerland
Gstaad lifestyle
Tennis tournament Switzerland
Alpine luxury
Raphael Collignon
Juan Manuel
Luxe Magazine Switzerland