SANTIAGO/STARNBERG, October 9, 2021
Francisco Cerundolo leads the semi-finals line-up of the $52,080 Dove Men & Care Legión Sudamericana Challenger Santiago 2 ATP Challenger clay-court event in Chile. The No. 2 seed from Argentina edged past in-form local wild card entry Gonzalo Lama 7-6(4), 6-4 on Friday afternoon at the Club Deportivo Palestino.
Cerundolo converted five of his 14 break-point chances to seal victory in two hours and 25 minutes. The World No. 110, who is bidding for his second ATP Challenger title this season following his triumph in Cordenons, Italy in early August, will next take on No. 3 seed Juan Pablo Varillas. The 25-year-old Peruvian remained untroubled during his 6-1, 6-3 win over Austrian veteran Gerald Melzer. The encounter lasted one hour and 16 minutes.
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In the top half of the draw, Nicolas Jarry continued his fine run of form on home soil by knocking out No. 4 seed Hugo Dellien from Bolivia, 7-6(4), 6-4. The World No. 217 struck eight aces and won 71 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 58 minutes.
Santiago native Jarry is seeking his fourth Challenger career crown, his second of 2021 after lifting the trophy in Salinas, Ecuador in April. The 25-year-old will next take on Sebastian Baez. The fifth-seeded Argentine defeated his compatriot Facundo Mena 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and 15 minutes.
