AUSTRALIAN OPEN. Men´s Singles
Argentine tennis player Francisco Cerúndolo is captivating fans with his outstanding level of play at the Australian Open. The Buenos Aires native delivered a commanding performance to dispatch Andrey Rublev in straight sets and book his place in the fourth round.
Cerúndolo remains yet to drop a set in the tournament, playing with remarkable confidence and control. The match, played at the Kia Arena, lasted 2 hours and 9 minutes and ended 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3. With the win, Cerúndolo extended his head-to-head advantage over Rublev to four victories against one.
His next challenge will be a major one: Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, who defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie in four sets.
“I’m very happy because I’m playing great tennis and feeling really good on court,” said Cerúndolo, currently ranked No. 21 in the world. “It was my third time reaching the third round and I really wanted to win and get past that barrier. I played an excellent match from start to finish against an opponent who hits the ball extremely hard — he serves well, returns well, and puts you under pressure all the time.”
Cerúndolo also highlighted the strong support he has received from Argentine fans in Melbourne. “It’s a huge joy to have so much support from the people when you’re so far from home. It’s crazy — what the fans make you feel is incredible. I want to thank them all because I know it’s expensive to come here,” he said. Echoing the chants heard on television, he later wrote on the camera lens: “We’re playing at home again.”
Reflecting on his performance, Cerúndolo remained self-critical. “Today I played quite well. I’d like to come to the net a bit more, just to be a little braver. Adjust that, adjust my returns — there’s always room to improve.”
For the third time in his career, Cerúndolo has reached the round of 16 at a Grand Slam. Previously, he achieved that milestone at Roland Garros in 2023 and 2024, but this marks his first appearance in the fourth round at a major outside of Paris.
In 2023, he fell to Holger Rune in a grueling five-set battle decided by a super tiebreak. In 2024, his run ended against Novak Djokovic, who competed while injured for much of the match and later withdrew from the tournament.
Cerúndolo is also the first Argentine to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open in six years. Diego Schwartzman last achieved the feat in 2020, winning his first three matches without dropping a set before losing to Djokovic in straight sets.
Awaiting Cerúndolo in the fourth round is Zverev, last year’s Australian Open finalist. The German has already claimed three four-set victories in the tournament — against Diallo, Muller, and Norrie — hitting 52 winners, committing 29 unforced errors, and converting six break points in his latest match, which lasted 2 hours and 46 minutes.
The head-to-head between Cerúndolo and Zverev is led by the Argentine 3–2. However, Zverev has won their last two meetings, both played on hard courts: at the Canada Masters and in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Bologna, both in 2025.
Fast, composed, and convincing, Cerúndolo did everything right — and Melbourne is taking notice.