Cerundolo Fires Past Fritz To Extend Best Roland Garros Run | ATP Tour

After entering Roland Garros without a peloton win, Francisco Cerundolo secured his best Grand Slam result by reaching the fourth round in Paris. The Argentinian defeated number 9 seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday night, continuing his run. With the win, he improved to 6:7 against the top 10 opponents.

Cerundolo was winless in four Grand Slam main round appearances before 2023, but reached the third round at the Australian Open before his success at Roland Garros. His Paris season continues on Monday with a showdown against number six seed Holger Rune.

The 24-year-old, who moved up three spots from his current career high to 20th this week in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, frustrated Fritz with his big forehand to secure the win on Court Suzanne-Lenglen after two hours and 50 minutes. After squandering an early break advantage in a dramatic fourth set, Cerundolo saved a set point at 4-5 with a majestic topspin lobber, eventually winning the final three games of the match with his baseline brilliance.

Beautiful by @FranCerundolo 😍@Roland Garros | #Roland Garros

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— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 3, 2023

There were ten breaks of serve in total in the back-and-forth match, with Cerundolo converting six of 21 break chances and Fritz saving four of his 15 break balls. Fritz, whose defeat means five of the top 10 seeds are eliminated after three rounds at Roland Garros, fired nine aces while Cerundolos fired one. But the American was second best in many neutral rallies as Cerundolo moved him from side to side with power and distance.

Cerundolo, quarterfinalist of the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami and Rome this season, was one of three Argentines in action on Saturday. Earlier in the day, while Rune passed Genaro Alberto Olivieri, Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated No. 15 seed Borna Coric 6-3 7-6(5) 6-2. With the win, 23-year-old Etcheverry – who reached his first two ATP Tour finals this season in Santiago and Houston – extended his best major run.

The 23-year-old, who moved up 12 spots to 37th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, fell to the floor in celebration after his second top 20 win of the season. The Argentine defeated the world number 19. Alex de Minaur in the second round in Paris.

Etcheverry was only able to win one Grand Slam main round victory before Roland Garros, his victory coming earlier this season at the Australian Open. Next up for the unseeded Argentine is a fourth-round clash with 27th-seeded Yoshihito Nishioka on Saturday, who finished 3-6 7-6(8) 2-6 6-4 6: 0 defeated Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild.