BUENOS AIRES/STARNBERG, October 22, 2021
Francisco Cerundolo has joined his younger brother Juan Manuel in the quarterfinals line-up of the DOVE MEN+CARE Challenger Circuit Buenos Aires being held at the Racket Club in Argentina’s capital city.
The No. 3 seed of the $52,080 ATP Challenger clay-court tournament defeated fellow Argentine Juan Pablo Ficovich 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday afternoon. Buenos Aires native Cerundolo converted five of his 10 break-point opportunities to secure victory in one hour and 27 minutes.
🎙 La palabra de @FranCerundolo tras vencer 7-5 y 6-2 a @juampificovich y avanzar a los cuartos de final del #ChallengerBA 🎾 pic.twitter.com/kaWrBVDbQf
— Challenger de Buenos Aires (@ChallengerBA) October 21, 2021
“It’s great to play in such a fantastic atmosphere,” said Cerundolo. “I don’t feel any pressure to play in front of my family and my friends, it motivates me even more. This week, I am back at my best after a long time, it is a great feeling.”
Francisco is also happy that his brother will crack the Top 100 for the first time after this week. “He deserves it for the great year he had. It is incredible what he has achieved. I will continue fighting, trying to follow his path.”
The World No. 116 will next take on Uruguayan qualifier Martin Cuevas, who beat local wild card entry Mariano Navone 7-6(0), 7-5 in two hours and 13 minutes.
Varillas advances
In the bottom half of the draw, Juan Pablo Varillas advanced to the stage of the last eight. The No. 4 seed from Peru edged past Santiago Rodriguez Taverna of Argentina 6-4, 6-2. Varillas, who earned his fourth ATP Challenger career trophy at Santiago de Chile earlier this month, struck five aces and won 85 per cent of his first-service points. The 26-year-old Lima native saved both break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own seven break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 26 minutes.
Up next for Varillas will be No. 7 seed Sebastian Baez, who won the all-Argentine affair with Juan Ignacio Londero 6-3, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
🔥 @Seba_baez7 derrotó 6-3 y 6-4 a @juanlondero, avanzó a cuartos de final del #ChallengerBA y ya ganó 11 de los 12 últimos partidos.
🔜 Este viernes tendrá revancha ante @jpvarillas, el último en vencerlo -final de Santiago hace dos semanas-. pic.twitter.com/xeRb1ssxc1
— Challenger de Buenos Aires (@ChallengerBA) October 22, 2021
