Juan Manuel Cerúndolo (#114 in the Ranking) played an impeccable match, beating the first seed of the tournament, Diego Schwartzman, and in the quarterfinals he will face Hugo Dellien. After a first set that ended 7-6, the youngest of the Cerúndolos brought out his best level to beat “Peque” 6-1 in the second set.
“It was an impressive match. I think I’m at a much higher level than the one that saw me become champion. In 2021 it was something fantastic because everything worked out for me, but I think that now I am much more of a player, ”he declared after the game.
He will now seek to beat Hugo Dellien, a rival who defeated him in the Challenger in Concepción (Chile) at the end of January. The three previous days of the main draw of the Córdoba Open had included an intense start on the center court, with matches lasting more than two hours and 40 minutes (including the cross between the Spaniards Bernabé Zapata Miralles and Roberto Carballes Banea, a new record for the Córdoba Open).
It was a different story for Federico Coria (67th), who repeated the solid service of his previous match and, when he had a 6-3 and 3-1 lead, benefited from the withdrawal of the Italian Marco Cecchinato. “I am having a lot of confidence with the serve and I am holding on to that.
This year I trained to win an ATP and I will give everything to achieve it, ”he remarked at the subsequent press conference. Regarding the next match against Francisco Cerúndolo, he assessed that “it is difficult to play against another Argentine because I get along well with most of them, I have a very good relationship.” Hugo Dellien (138th) continues with the development of his best campaign in the contest that takes place at the Polo Deportivo Kempes.
After qualifying (he defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild and Nicolás Kicker) and beating Pedro Cachín in the first round, he left another Argentine like Guido Pella on the road.
Schwartzman praises his opponent’s performance
After exiting the Cordoba Open on Thursday, top seed Diego Schwartzman talked about his father’s hospitalization.
“My father was hospitalised for three weeks and just came out yesterday. I spent two weeks spending hours in the clinic. They are not excuses, but perhaps I have less patience. I feel more frustration when playing. My personal situation affects.” He continued: “If you see me train, I’m doing very well, and that’s how I feel on a day-to-day basis, but when it comes to competing, I’m not feeling my moments.”
