It took Francisco Cerundolo a while to search out his clay-court bearings after an extended stretch away from the floor, however he did so within the nick of time on Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals on the Cordoba Open.
In a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory towards fellow Argentine Federico Delbonis, the second seed trailed 2-5 within the third set and saved a match level on return at 3-5 earlier than claiming victory on his sixth match level. Cerundolo gained the ultimate 5 video games of the two-and-a-half-hour contest.
“I think after 2-5 in the third I played my best tennis of the match,” the 24-year-old stated in his on-court interview. “I was more solid, more patient. I was used to playing on hard [courts], faster points, two or three balls. I had to grind here, play more balls. I figured it out at the end of the match and I think that was a key.”
Cerundolo’s most up-to-date clay match was final July, when he reached the Hamburg semi-finals. With Thursday’s win, he superior to his second tour-level quarter-final since that occasion.
The World No. 31 created 18 break possibilities towards Delbonis, changing six of these alternatives. Cerundolo claimed the decisive break, to guide 6-5 within the third, with an imposing forehand winner that was completely positioned, hit inside-out with authority. After he served out the match in a four-deuce sport, the countrymen shared a heat embrace on the web.
Cerundolo will subsequent face one other Argentine in sixth seed Federico Coria, who superior to the quarters when Marco Cecchinato retired whereas trailing 3-6, 1-3.
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Also on Thursday, Albert Ramos-Vinolas made a profitable begin to his Cordoba title defence with three-set victory towards Dusan Lajovic.
The 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 consequence stretched the third seed’s win streak to 6 matches on the ATP 250, after he claimed the 2022 title with the lack of only one set. He has additionally gained 10 of his previous 11 matches in Cordoba, beginning together with his run to the 2021 remaining.
Ramos-Vinolas is looking for to change into a repeat champion on the identical occasion for the primary time this week. All 4 of his tour-level titles have come on clay, together with his Cordoba victory his most up-to-date triumph.
Photo credit score: @CordobaOpen / Nicolás Aguilera
In his first clay match of 2023, the third seed performed his finest tennis within the closing phases towards Lajovic to earn his first win of the season. After saving a break level at 2-2 within the third set, Ramos-Vinolas went on to win the ultimate 4 video games of the match, sealing victory with a break to like.
Portugal’s Joao Sousa awaits within the quarter-finals after his 7-5, 7-6(6) win towards Cristian Garin. In different motion, Hugo Dellien defeated Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4.
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Source: www.atptour.com