Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, champion of the 2021 edition of the Córdoba Open, made his debut this Monday in the ATP 250 that opens the South American tour on brick dust, with a victory against the Spanish Pablo Andújar.
“Juanma”, 114 in the ATP world ranking, defeated Andújar (153) by 6/4, 1/0 and retired (due to discomfort in his right shoulder) and in the round of 16 he will face the top seed of the contest: Diego Schwartzman (28).
“It’s a separate game, I will go in with all my desire and I will try to win but I know that a legend of the sport will be in front of me. It was top 10 and it is the favorite”, praised the youngest of the Cerúndolo brothers to the best Argentine racket on the circuit.
“Juanma” also referred to the training he did with “el Peque”: We have a lot of training together, but it’s the first time we’re going to play officially, so it’s a new match.”
“Walking down the hall and seeing my name among the champions was very motivating. I am happy to be here and to have started with a victory in a really tough match”, he acknowledged.
The start of the singles main draw resulted in an exciting battle, which ended with the longest-lasting record in the history of the Córdoba Open: the Spaniard Bernabé Zapata Miralles (76) suffered to overcome the score against Roberto Carballes Baena (77) and took the victory in three hours and 26 minutes (6/7, 6/3 and 7/5), six more than the match starred precisely by two compatriots such as Pablo Andújar and Albert Ramos Viñolas in 2020.
“Despite having had some mental downturn, I kept fighting. It was the key to a confrontation against a fighter like Roberto, who beat me several times. It is my first visit to Argentina, so I am very happy because I love the country”, acknowledged the Spaniard, player number 60 to play in the tournament.
For his part, the Serbian Dusan Lajovic (89), who debuted his name at the Córdoba Open with a two-set victory over the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (98) (7/6 and 6/3), will be the rival of Albert Ramos Viñolas (54), defending champion.
The Italian-Argentine Luciano Darderi (200) and the French Hugo Gaston (101), two other rookies in the main draw of the contest, closed the first day last night.
Doubles first round results
Guido Andreozzi / Guillermo Durán to Federico Coria / Tomás Martín Etcheverry by 6/2 and 6/3
Roberto Carballes Baena / Pedro Martínez to Marco Cecchinato / Daniel Elahí Galán by 6/1 and 6/2.