Fran Cerúndolo: "I didn't want to lose three finals in Buenos Aires"

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The Buenos Aires tournament had the best possible ending last night: an Argentine lifting the trophy. The celebration was led by Fran Cerúndolo, someone who had been pursuing this beautiful goal for many years.

Because there is nothing like winning at home, especially if you have been at the doorsteps before. Fran Cerúndolo had lost the final of the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires twice: in 2021 against Diego Schwartzman and in 2025 against Joao Fonseca. Third time was the charm for the local tennis player, defeating Luciano Darderi convincingly to once again keep the trophy at home. After fulfilling the dream, the Buenos Aires native addressed the accredited media to explain how important it is to finish the week on a high note.

His best match of the tournament

"It was a very special match, I rank it very high in my career, but I couldn't say exactly where. I place it at the top because of all the intensity and context it carried. It was a final in Buenos Aires, after having lost twice, also against Luciano, who had been playing very well on this surface. I knew it was going to be a tough match; we both showcased spectacular tennis. I would say it was my best match of the entire tournament. It was what I needed to win today, if I had dropped my level a bit, he would have taken it. For all these reasons, I hold it in high regard. I didn't want to lose three finals here in Buenos Aires."

The fulfilled childhood dream

"Since I first played this tournament, I dreamed of winning it. Since I passed the Qualifying rounds for the first time and made it to the main draw, it was already a luxury for me. I didn't know if I would play it again, although I did have the hope of playing it a few times. Two years later, I qualified again and reached my first final, totally unexpected. From there, I kept growing, placing myself better in the rankings, seeing myself more as a contender for this tournament. Last year, I lost in the final; I thought I would have another chance, so that was my mindset from the beginning of the week. I went step by step until I reached where I wanted to be, I really wanted to win here in Buenos Aires; I have a very strong connection with this club and these people."

Goal: make noise in the Grand Slams

"I don't set a specific goal, I want to perform well in the major tournaments because that's what was missing for me last year. I did well at the US Open, reaching the round of 16 and losing to a superior player, who then almost beat Alcaraz in the semifinals. What I seek is to bring out my best tennis every week and face the best in the world; that's where I will know what I need to improve further. I like those challenges, I need them to keep progressing."

Direct duel against Darderi

"I went out looking for the first point from the beginning; we know each other very well, and we are both aggressive players. Today, I attacked very well but also defended very well, I knew how to neutralize his shots when necessary. Finals are unique matches; you have to play them. I think I did nearly everything right; then he started to make a few more mistakes in the second set. I would say the final score is a bit misleading, it doesn't reflect what happened. When I had the match point, I tried not to get anxious, to play it as if it were just another point, without falling into the trap of thinking that you have to play it in a grandiose way."

Fran Cerúndolo's key to success

"It's the result of many years of work, of persisting and striving. There are people who may think that I have zero talent, that I just limit myself to playing sports and training, but the truth is that I'm constantly seeking ways to improve my tennis, studying what I lack on each surface to defeat the best. I believe the work I did with my team in the preseason was very good; I showed it in Australia, and I have shown it again here. That makes me happy, marks a great start to the year; we were aiming to reach this level. I don't know if it means relieving myself of a burden, but I really wanted to win here."

From Buenos Aires to Rio

"I'm happy today, but this sport is very tough, tomorrow I'm already taking a flight to Rio, and I have to change gears. On Tuesday, I have another match, your opponent wants to beat you, there's a high risk of losing. That moment of victory, that euphoria of having won, is brief; it's always complicated. Luckily, I've been through these situations before, so I hope I know how to handle them to switch gears tomorrow when I arrive in Rio. I don't want to dwell on this title and then lose in the first round... although it could happen to me anyway. I will try to give my best in Rio; I know it's an ATP 500 tournament that offers many points, and I would like to keep winning."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fran Cerúndolo: “No quería perder tres finales en Buenos Aires”