ATP Tour
Collignon stars as Belgium shocks Australia in Davis Cup
Belgium into last eight of Davis Cup for first time since 2018
September 14, 2025
David Gray/AFP via Getty Images
Raphael Collignon is embraced by Zizou Bergs after clinching victory for Belgium on Sunday in Sydney.
By ATP Staff
Raphael Collignon capped a dream weekend at the Davis Cup qualifiers for both himself and Belgium with a decisive comeback victory against Aleksandar Vukic on Sunday in Sydney.
Having battled cramps on Saturday during a three-set upset of World No. 8 Alex de Minaur, Collignon outlasted Vukic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 to earn Belgium a stunning 3-2 win at Ken Rosewall Arena. The No. 91 in the PIF ATP Rankings broke Vukic’s serve twice in each of the second and third sets to complete a memorable triumph for the European nation.
Almighty Raphael 👑
Collignon completes the comeback against Vukic 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3, sealing Belgium’s place in Bologna’s final 8! 🇧🇪@DavisCup | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/6nXyBvEUQF
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 14, 2025
Despite heading into Sunday’s action trailing 0-2, Australia threatened to pull off a memorable comeback after drawing level at 2-2. Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson prevailed 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles rubber against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, before De Minaur downed Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5. Yet the 23-year-old Collignon had other ideas.
“Yesterday was very demanding physically,” said Collignon after his win over Vukic, as reported by the Davis Cup website. “I was trying to recover as well as I could for today. It was a long day to wait but I tried to recover as I could to be ready for this match and I’m very happy how I played.
“Physically I was feeling okay. With adrenaline and the energy from the bench it was crazy, I didn’t feel the legs at all. It was a crazy atmosphere and a crazy match.”
A Davis Cup finalist in 2015 and 2017, Belgium is into the last eight in the Davis Cup for the first time since 2018. The 2025 Davis Cup Final 8 will be held in Bologna from 18-23 November. Alongside Belgium, the other qualified countries so far are host Italy, Argentina, Austria, Czechia, France and Germany.
