Francisco Cerundolo continues winning run on clay at the Rio Open

(Tennis news) Two of the round of 16 matches were delayed due to rain at the Rio Open. Matteo Berrettini and Thiago Monteiro did not hit a single shot in the match as it got suspended, Carlos Alcaraz was two points away from taking the first set against Federico Delbonis who will look to take advantage of the given break.

 

Francisco Cerundolo made his third career quarterfinal and his second consecutive one after reaching the last eight at the Argentina Open a week ago. Cerundolo was struggling with serve against Roberto Carballes Baena in the first 4 games of the match. After securing an early break the set was his to take as Roberto failed to make an impact with his returns.

 

The Argentine won the first 8 points of the second set and went on to take a 3-0 lead. The Spaniard finally got his break point of the match to get his first game in the set, after a hold of serve it was the 23 year old who edged ahead in the pair’s first meeting. Pablo Andujar and Alcaraz are the only players left from Spain as they have lost 5 players in 2 days. Cerundolo defeated Roberto 6-3, 6-2.

 

Miomir Kecmanovic was on the winning side for the second time against Lorenzo Sonego after defeating him at the Australian Open. The pair have now met in hardcourts, clay and grass with Sonego having won in grass. The Serbian could only win 2 points in the first three games as he was down 0-3 and broke serve after 2 games for the equaliser. The 26 year old was left behind in the 10th game and could only win one point of his rival’s 8 second serves.

 

In the second set, Kecmanovic was improving on his first serve as it was getting the speed and accuracy needed. A break in the 3rd game enabled the 22 year old to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Cerundolo, they had met a week ago at Buenos Aires and the world number 70 lost the match. Kecmanovic defeated Sonego 7-5, 6-4.

 

Diego Schwartzman will be playing Pablo Andujar for a place in the semifinal, Schwartzman only dropped two games in the previous match against Pedro Martinez. The 29 year old is looking at a third consecutive semi final entry after Cordoba and Buenos Aires where he reached the final. Fabio Fognini will face in form Federico Coria as the Italian will need to cook something special in order to get a place in the last four.

 

Also read: Fognini covers ground after 2 year absence at Rio

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