The Geneva Open semifinals on Friday feature Casper Ruud trying to extend a perfect week against Argentine clay-courter Mariano Navone. In the other semi, Alexander Bublik faces a tricky matchup with rising Learner Tien.
(6) Casper Ruud vs. Mariano Navone
Casper Ruud hasn’t dropped a set all week at the Geneva Open, a tournament he won back in 2022. The Norwegian comes in off a quarterfinal win over Alexei Popyrin in which he didn’t face a single break point, and that’s after reaching the final in Rome last week.
Mariano Navone is no joke on clay (he already has a title in 2026 and took out third seed Cameron Norrie in the round of 16), but Ruud has pocketed 12 career titles on the surface and beat the Argentine in straight sets in last year’s Davis Cup competition. There is little to suggest that Navone is going to make noise in this match. Ruud is in better form and he is masterful at racking up points at smaller events.
Cheryl pick: Ruud in 2
Ricky pick: Navone in 3
(2) Alexander Bublik vs. (4) Learner Tien
Alexander Bublik is at a career-high ranking of No. 10 and is seeded second this week, but clay isn’t where he’s most dangerous. Bublik breezed past Edas Butvilas 6-4, 6-3 in his opener and then needed a three-set tiebreak comeback to escape Arthur Rinderknech in the quarters. Learner Tien, the 20-year-old No. 4 seed, is slightly over-performing given his historic difficulties on the dirt. The American took out Stefanos Tsitsipas in two tiebreakers in round two and stormed back to beat Alex Michelsen 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the quarters.
Tien has already beaten Bublik once recently, which the Kazakh will be looking to avenge — and Geneva’s quicker conditions favor his serve. Tien will hang in, though, and probably force a third set. I’m giving the nod to Bublik in a tight one.
Cheryl pick: Bublik in 3
Ricky pick: Tien in 3