Cerundolo readies for Sinner’s defining challenge
Under the lights of the Paris Masters, Francisco Cerundolo shakes off injury doubts, gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with Jannik Sinner that promises to test his limits on the indoor hard courts.
In the charged atmosphere of the Paris Masters, where baseline echoes mix with the hum of anticipation, Francisco Cerundolo stands at a crossroads in his 2025 season. The Argentine has clawed back from a mid-year slump and abdominal injury, dispatching early-round opponents to rebuild momentum. Now, facing World No. 2 Jannik Sinner on Thursday, he eyes a chance to affirm his place among the elite, blending tactical aggression with renewed mental sharpness on a surface that rewards precision and power.
Rebounding through consistent baseline play
The opening months of the year saw Cerundolo surge into the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings, marked by a 4-4 record against Top 10 players and quarterfinal appearances in three of the first four ATP Masters 1000 events—Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid. His game thrived on deep crosscourt forehands that stretched opponents wide, setting up inside-in winners to close points efficiently. Yet, the tour’s relentless pace led to a mental and physical dip, culminating in an abdominal injury that forced his retirement against Alexander Zverev in the Toronto round of 16, disrupting that rhythm just as it peaked.
Recent straight-sets victories over Damir Dzumhur and Miomir Kecmanovic in Paris signal his return to form, with improved movement allowing sharper one–two combinations from the baseline. Cerundolo credits the setback for sharpening his focus, noting how the injury prompted a reset that has him serving more aggressively to jam returns and varying underspin on backhands to disrupt footing on the slick indoor surface.
“I have the level to compete toe to toe with the best,” Francisco Cerundolo told ATPTour.com earlier this year.
Heightened edge in elite matchups
Cerundolo’s ledger boasts five career wins over Top 5 players, including two this season against then-No. 2 Zverev in Buenos Aires and Madrid, contributing to a 15-18 overall mark versus Top 10 opponents via the ATP Win/Loss Index. These successes stem from a subconscious intensity that demands flawless execution—no free points through lapses in concentration or tentative shot-making. He recalls his 2023 Rome triumph over Sinner, then ranked No. 8, where home-crowd energy fueled crosscourt exchanges that turned defensive into dominant, eventually leveling their head-to-head at 2-2 before this clash aims for 3-3.
Confronting top talents like Sinner heightens his awareness, pushing him to stay locked in from the first ball, blending heavy topspin with flat down-the-line strikes to probe weaknesses. This mental gear-shift transforms pressure into propulsion, especially indoors where the low bounce amplifies every error and reward. As he prepares, Cerundolo views the matchup not just as a test but as validation of his untapped potential, still outside the Top 15 at No. 21.
“I often play well against the best players,” he told ATPTour.com a few months ago. “Subconsciously I know that, because they’re much tougher players, I can’t give them any advantages, physically, mentally or in tennis terms. So I’m much more focused from start to finish.”
Disrupting Sinner’s indoor dominance
Sinner’s ballstriking mastery shines on fast indoor courts, where he redirects pace with inside-out forehands and penetrating backhands that leave defenders scrambling. Cerundolo plans to counter by serving to the body and following with aggressive forehand depth, aiming to prevent the Italian from dictating neutral crosscourt rallies that play to his strengths. The Paris arena’s partisan buzz and echoing shots will heighten the stakes, much like Rome’s roar, demanding Cerundolo switch gears seamlessly to maintain rally control.
“The first six months were very good. I was playing at a high level, I was very consistent. Then I had a mental and physical slump, which is maybe normal with the intensity at the start of the year,” Cerundolo said on Wednesday. “Then I got an injury in Toronto, but I think I’m playing great tennis again.” He recognizes Sinner’s edge alongside Carlos Alcaraz in dominating the tour for two to three years, yet embraces the challenge as a chance to elevate.
To thrive, the Argentine must keep Sinner off-balance, using slice approaches to draw him forward before punishing with overheads, all while sustaining that peak focus under the lights. Whatever unfolds, this duel promises a tactical chess match of serves and counters, with Cerundolo’s resurgence hinging on turning Sinner’s pressure into his own breakthrough moment as the season nears its close.
“Whatever happens, I’ll have to play my best tennis,” Cerundolo said. “He’s one of the best in the world, without a doubt, alongside Carlos [Alcaraz]. They’ve been dominating the tour for two to three years, practically from start to finish. It’ll be an amazing test. Hopefully I can play great tennis because he’ll demand everything from me. And I’ll have to be ready for that. “He’s the best ballstriker on tour right now. He can do anything he wants with the ball on both sides, so I can’t allow him to be comfortable. I’ll have to serve very well, play very aggressively, dictate the points as much as I can because he’ll push me to the limit. I’m playing against the best player in the world on indoor courts.”
