Francisco Cerúndolo will play in the round of 16 at Roland Garros against Serbian Novak Djokovicworld number 1 and defending champion, while Tomás Martín Etcheverry ended his participation in the third round defeated by Norwegian Casper Ruud, seventh seed.
While the Buenos Aires native equaled his participation from last year after defeating American Tommy Paul14th seeded, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and 6-2, the one from La Plata took two steps below the quarterfinals he played in 2023, after falling against the finalist of the last two editions of 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 and 6-2.
The presence of the Argentine in the individual table is now pending the work of Cerúndolowhose career will intersect this Monday with a surging Djokovic, on his way to his twenty-fifth Grand Slam.
The man from Buenos Aires has never played against the world number 1 before and the experience will come at a special moment, when the 37-year-old Serbian seems to be showing some signs of fatigue.
No titles all season, he’s focused on the big ones. He failed in Australia and now he will try to add a new “major” in Paris to surpass the Australian Margaret Court and remain alone at the top of tennis.
“I think it is a nice challenge, a reward for me, because I have never played against him and I don’t know if I will have the chance to face him again. in the future. I will face it with the best enthusiasm, because I believe in him, I want to feel what it feels like to play against the best,” said the Argentine.
In Paris, where he arrived after reaching the quarterfinals in Madrid, leaving tennis players as strong as the German Alexander Zverev, Cerúndolo regained the good feelings he lost in Rome or, recently, in Lyon .
The French capital’s clay court restored dynamism to his game, which allowed him to overcome a rival of Paul’s stature, winning the first set.
But the Argentine reacted well, imposing his rhythm on the rivalrywith more fighting from the back of the court and ended up interrupting his rival’s tennis.
Etcheverry, who arrived with high expectations, did not have the same luck. after the quarterfinals they reached last year and after playing the final in Lyon a week ago.
Against the Norwegian Ruud, a methodical tennis player, very solid on clay, the player from La Plata tried to have a dynamic and offensive game, which helped him fight in the first round and score brilliantly in the second.
But the Scandinavian piston did not drop, he remained steadfast from the back of the court as the Argentine’s game loses consistency.
Ruud, who has not lost a match in Paris before the final since 2021, ended up raising his arms after two hours and 46 minutes of tennis played in the early hours of the morning in the French capital.
Eleven Argentines started the individual draws at Roland Garros and only one remains in the round of 16. Cerúndolo was called upon to win over Djokovic to keep the albiceleste flame alive in Paris.
Source: La Verdad
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