Cerundolo reveals the changes he has introduced in his tennis: "I hope it continues to work in the future"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 6 Apr 2026 | 19.13

Cerúndolo reveals the changes he has introduced in his tennis: "I hope it continues to work in the future". Photo: Gettyimages

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Fran Cerúndolo will be one of the names to keep an eye on in this clay court swing. He was already a standout last year when he reached the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open. This year, he landed at the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo after reaching the quarterfinals in Miami, and he began his journey with a hard-fought victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas (7-5, 6-4).

The Argentine already knows what it's like to lift a title on this surface, which he did at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires. However, the elder Cerúndolo brother aims to take the next step and compete for the major titles on this clay court swing.

This was confirmed by Cerúndolo himself in an interview with Tennis Channel where he discussed the challenge of transitioning from the hard courts of Miami to the clay courts of Monte Carlo, his main goals on clay, and the experience of sharing a Masters 1000 draw with his brother Juan Manuel. All of this before playing his second match in Monaco against Tomas Machac.

Fran Cerúndolo, ready to take the next step in the clay court swing

"I'm really happy to be back playing on clay. It's not easy. The first round, coming from the United States, from hard courts, with just one week to prepare... and also playing against Tsitsipas in the first round was no easy draw. I like it, but that's the challenge here. Tennis is tough. Every draw is getting more competitive," he said.

"You have to be ready to face anyone. I had lost to Tsitsipas twice before on indoor hard courts, and now playing him on clay was going to be different, of course, but this is a place where he's won three times. So I'm very happy to have advanced and won the first round," he added.

He Only Had Four Days of Rest between Miami and Monte Carlo

"I went straight home to recharge my batteries a bit and rest because I lost, I think, on Thursday night or Friday in the quarterfinals. I went back home for four or five days because this clay swing is long. It's going to be two or three months away from home," he said.

"So I wanted to be home for at least four or five days. I practiced for two days and then came here. It's not easy, you have to get used to it. It's not something I love. And it's not, let's say, fun. But that's how it is. We are players, and I wanted to be here. So I prepared the best I could to be ready for this tournament," he explained.

Playing with His Brother in the Same Tournament

"It's more than a dream. We could never have imagined when we were kids that we would play one after the other on the central court in Monte Carlo, with the stadium full. It's fantastic," he said.

"Before me, Báez also played, who is also Argentine, so it's amazing. There's not much more to say. We are privileged. Hopefully, my brother can close out this Argentine day with a victory. But even if he doesn't win, it's always special to be here playing consecutive matches on the central court," he added.

Seeking His Best Result in Monte Carlo

"Last year, I had a very good clay season. The only tournament where I didn't perform well was Roland Garros. So this year, I probably want to try to do well there. But Roland Garros is the final part of the journey. Before that, there are many big and important tournaments in the coming weeks. Right now, the focus is here. I want to try to win the next match, something that has always eluded me in the second round here. I want to take the next step and see what happens," he explained.

"After that, I don't know. Of course, I want to win all the tournaments. But I don't know. Last year, I reached the semifinals in Madrid. So honestly, I don't have specific goals. I haven't set anything, but I will try to give my best in each tournament because I really like this swing, and I will try to do my best," he concluded.

A Change in His Racquet, Key to His Strong Start of the Year

"I think I started the clay season very well in Buenos Aires, winning a tournament. At the beginning of the year, I made some changes to my racquet and strings, so I tried to get different options: more spin, more power, whatever. And I think it worked really well in Buenos Aires. So hopefully, it worked today as well, and I hope it continues to work in the future," he said.

"But yes, on clay, there's topspin serves, different tactics, sliding instead of playing like on hard courts. You have to work hard, get dirty, fight. You'll probably have few easy points, not as many as on hard courts. That's what I learned from a young age: fight for every point, work hard, have grit. So I'll try to keep that up," said Fran Cerúndolo, who aims to challenge the world's top players on the clay courts of Monte Carlo.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cerúndolo desvela los cambios que ha introducido en su tenis: "Espero que siga funcionando en el futuro"

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