Cerúndolo: "I played a very bad match, ended up doubting my game"

Fernando Murciego | 2 May 2025 | 19.23

From Cerúndolo in his last mixed zone in Madrid. Source: Break Point.

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He was playing a Masters 1000 semifinal for the second time, but this was also not the right one for Fran Cerúndolo. The Argentine bid farewell to Madrid this Friday after losing to Casper Ruud in a match that had more errors than successes, a tough battle where the Norwegian was slightly superior in the crucial moments. After the defeat, the accredited press was able to meet with the South American in the mixed zone to ask him the last questions before heading to his next tournament.

Match analysis

“I didn't have the best feelings, I played a very erratic match, with many mistakes, at times poorly, although he didn't play great tennis either, but he did better in the critical points. I don't know if it was so much nerves, it was more the anxiety when you start to let many opportunities slip away, every time a new one arises, you see it a bit more difficult, further away from achieving. I had too many chances that I couldn't convert, it’s difficult to generate so many break point opportunities, today I did, but couldn't capitalize on them. In the end, you start to doubt your game a little bit.”

Closing the roof mid-match

“There was a bit more humidity, it was more sweaty, it even looks a bit worse when the roof is closed, there's less light. It was also faster with the roof closed, then it became a bit slower.”

Tournament assessment

“In a couple of days, I will begin to see all the positive things because now it’s really hard to focus on the good aspects. These are my second Masters 1000 semifinals, it wouldn't make sense to criticize myself for what happened today, as it has been a week of significant progress. I don't think this defeat will shake my confidence, I hope to compete well in Rome. In a few days, I will look at everything from a different perspective, I have won some good matches here, and that's what I will take with me.”

The positive note

“I leave this tournament with my best ranking, 18th in the world, hopefully, I can continue to improve and bring out the tennis I played on the other days. In that sense, I am happy, although it is true that I didn’t play excellently any day, but I did show a good level of tennis. In fact, I believe I played much better in the hard court tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami than here on the clay. With what I had, I managed to compete well and advance through several rounds.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cerúndolo: “Jugué muy mal partido, acabé dudando de mi juego”