A year ago, 23-year-old Belgian Raphael Collignon made his main draw ATP Tour debut at his home tournament, the European Open. A year later, he was a semifinalist at the same tournament, the 250, now played in Brussels, presented him an opportunity to shine, and he did it, with a career best result.
An Upset of Bergs, using the momentum of the ATP Challenger Tour
Collignon made the top 100 through his terrific run on the ATP Challenger Tour. He’s 28-8 on the season, his second year of winning more than 20 ATP Challenger Tour matches. A final in Orleans in September was his first since winning Monza in April. A week after Orleans he reached the semis in Mouilleron le Captif.
Drawn as a wild card against the current Belgian #1 Zizou Bergs, a 26 year old who is also at a career high ranking #39, he advanced in flying colors, winning in straight sets, and winning a second set tiebreak 7-5 with an engaged local crowd watching on.
Francisco Comesana in the second round was a bigger challenge than expected, Comesana won the second set and forced a third set that went the distance Bergs prevailing in the tiebreak 12-10, and he saved a match point in the process.
Raphael Collignon With A Top 20 win over Davidovich Fokina
The string of tiebreak wins continued in the quarterfinals against #4 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, he won the first set tiebreak over the Spaniard 7-5, and then cruised in the second set 6-1. Though he would eventually fall to the talented Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals, it was still a breakthrough week that builds confidence and gives him a lot to work with heading into the 2026 season.
Collignon previously broke through at the Grand Slam level with a third-round appearance at the 2025 US Open he upset Casper Ruud in round 2 in a five set triumph that showed grit and mettle.
Next Steps for Collignon
With an 8-9 record on the ATP Tour or Grand Slam main draws in 2025, he’s a player well positioned to aim for the top 50 next season. At the Davis Cup, Collignon won both his matches in Australia against Aleksandar Vukic and top 10 player Alex de Minaur.
Having points to gain at all the Grand Slams and Masters, if he can gain entry. He only debuted in Grand Slam main draws at Wimbledon this year. The ATP Challenger Tour is increasingly in the rear-view mirror, and Belgium’s next ATP prospect has arrived with a new ATP ranking of #73, a 17 place boost from the week prior.
This week he will take on Shanghai finalist Arthur Rinderknech in the first round of the ATP Basel 500. That’s a tough but compelling matchup. Qualifiers at ATP Paris would be next, before ATP Metz or Athens clsoe out the season.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images
