In an impressive display of skill and determination, top-seeded Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina secured his place in the quarterfinals of the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago. He swiftly dispatched Denmark’s Elmer Moller in just 71 minutes, winning decisively with a score of 6-2, 6-2 in their second-round match.
Expressing his satisfaction, Cerundolo remarked, “I am super happy with my level and how I have been playing the last week and this year.” The 19th-ranked player recently claimed victory at his home event in Buenos Aires, though he faced an early exit in Rio de Janeiro shortly thereafter. He aims to solidify his reputation during the South American clay court swing.
“I grew up my whole life playing on clay. I developed my game on clay, so I try to always do well on this surface. I have been doing better and better every year. I am feeling really good on clay,” Cerundolo stated, underscoring his affinity for the surface.
In the next round, Cerundolo will face Emilio Nava, who made history by becoming the first American to reach the quarterfinals of this tournament. The 24-year-old defeated Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Additionally, Nava’s performance marks a significant achievement, as he is also the first US player to reach the last eight of a tour-level event on South American clay since Rajeev Ram in 2017.
Nava’s journey to this stage has been remarkable, highlighted by his upset of sixth seed Matteo Berrettini in the opening round, paving the way for his advancement to the quarterfinals in an ATP event for only the second time in his career.
Meanwhile, the tournament saw another Argentine, third-seeded Sebastian Baez, bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit in Rio de Janeiro. Baez overcame local favorite Cristian Garin with a competitive scoreline of 7-6(2), 1-6, 7-5 in a match featuring two former champions. This victory marks Baez’s fifth consecutive quarterfinal appearance at this ATP 250 clay-court event.
“Everything is special here, the people, the tournament, the conditions,” Baez noted after his victory. He acknowledged the support from the crowd, particularly given that he was facing a Chilean player.
Looking ahead, Baez will take on another Chilean competitor, eighth seed Alejandro Tabilo, in a rematch of the 2024 final, which Baez won. This encounter promises to be another exciting chapter in the ongoing competition.
