Argentine Hopeful on the Brink of Historic Win

Francisco Cerúndolo is poised to claim his first title on home soil, advancing to the final of the IEB+ Argentina Open after a decisive victory over fellow Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry. The top seed defeated Etcheverry 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday, putting him one match away from a long-awaited triumph.

A Third Chance for Glory

This marks Cerúndolo’s third appearance in the Buenos Aires final. He previously fell short in 2021 and 2025. “Just win the last match. I think that’s the only thing I have to do now,”” Cerúndolo stated after his semifinal win.

Reflecting on past finals, Cerúndolo acknowledged his previous challenges: “My first final here [was] against probably peak [Diego] Schwartzman in his best moment of his career, [ninth] in the world. I wasn’t mature enough to play those matches. He killed me.” He also noted a close contest last year, adding, “Then last year I played an incredible [Joao] Fonseca. I think we played an amazing final, but he was a little bit better than me. So tomorrow I will try to be a little bit better than the opponent.”

Final Showdown Awaits

Cerúndolo will face second seed Luciano Darderi in Sunday’s final. He boasts a 15-7 record at the Buenos Aires event. This year’s run to the final is particularly notable as he has not dropped a set throughout the tournament.

FAQ

• Who did Francisco Cerúndolo defeat in the semifinals? Tomás Martín Etcheverry.
• Who will Cerúndolo face in the final? Luciano Darderi.
• How many times has Cerúndolo reached the Buenos Aires final? Three times.