Although still fresh, behind was a brilliant victory over Frenchman Gaël Monfils that allowed him to advance to the round of 16. “It was the game of my life,” he said. Francisco Cerundolo about a victory that allowed him to get into the top 16 of the Masters 1000 de Miamiand that, among other achievements, will allow him to return to the Top 100 ranking.
This Tuesday, the player from Buenos Aires, who is also the last Argentine in the race in the tournament that takes place in Florida, will be measured in search of the quarterfinals against the American Frances Tiafoe (31st in the ranking). The match will be played in the third round of the Grandstand stadium, around 3:30 p.m. in our country, with transmission through ESPN.
The eldest of the Cerúndolo brothers has just won a resounding victory over Monfils (24th in the world), 6-2, 6-3, in just 69 minutes. It was a consistent and seamless performance, which left the experienced French player without a chance. With what was already done in Miami, Fran Cerúndolo secured a promotion of at least fifteen places in the weekly ATP ranking, up to the 88th step, which ensures his direct entry into Roland Garros and almost certainly also into Wimbledon.
“Is awesome. It is one of the best weeks of my life. I’m playing a Masters 1000 with the best players in the world, with the good things my brother (Juan Manuel) did, I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s the first time I’ve played this tournament, surrounded by many people I know,” Cerúndolo told ESPN.
This Tuesday will be the first meeting between Francisco Cerúndolo and Tiafoe, who prevented a historic duel between brothers by beating Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in the third round by 6-3 and 6-2. The American had not started the year well, with just 2 wins and 4 losses until the beginning of his participation in Miami. It is a contest in which he feels comfortable: he previously reached the quarterfinals once, and the second round twice. In the case of the Argentine, as has already been said, it is his first participation in the contest that is played at the Hard Rock Stadium. The winner of this cross will go to the next stage against the winner of the duel between the Australian Nick Kyrgios and the Italian Jannik Sinner.
In the outstanding matches of the last day, the Russian Daniil Medvedev He placed himself two wins away from reconquering number 1 on the men’s tour with his pass to the round of 16, by beating Spanish Pedro Martínez (47th) 6-3, 6-4. In case of reaching the semifinals in Miami, Medvedev will once again surpass Novak Djokovic. His next rival will be the young American Jenson Brooksby, who beat the Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, after being 0-4 in the deciding set.
In addition, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz beat Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, and will face the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who eliminated the Australian Alex de Miñaur 6-4, 6-3. In the women’s branch, the Polish Iga Swiatek, brand new number 1 after the retirement of Ashleigh Barty, crushed the young American Coco Gauff, 18, 6-3 and 6-1.
