Cerundolo’s Rio Campaign Cut Short by Back Woe
Francisco Cerundolo entered the Rio Open riding a wave of hometown triumph, but a stubborn back injury forced his early exit against Thiago Agustin Tirante, turning a promising clay swing into a test of resilience.
In the humid night air of Rio de Janeiro, Francisco Cerundolo stepped onto the clay as the top seed at the Rio Open presented by Claro, his game still humming from a straight-sets victory over countryman Mariano Navone in the opener. The Argentine arrived fresh off defending his title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, where heavy topspin forehands and relentless baseline pressure had carried him through grueling rallies. Yet against fellow Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante, the match exposed cracks in that momentum, with Cerundolo’s movement tightening early under the ATP 500 event’s demands.
Tirante took control in the first set, breaking serve twice to lead 6-2 by feeding off deep returns that neutralized Cerundolo’s inside-out forehands. The top seed fought back with down-the-line backhands, but his footwork on the grippy clay betrayed subtle fatigue from the South American swing. As the second set began, Cerundolo’s serves lost sting, allowing Tirante to build a 3-1 edge.
“It’s not good to win like this, especially with Fran, one of my friends. Any moment, I didn’t see anything,” Tirante said. “I knew that he was very tired from last week, so I had to improve myself on the court and focus on me.”
Fresh triumph collides with hidden strain
Cerundolo‘s Buenos Aires crown had boosted his confidence, a psychological lift after navigating tight three-setters on home soil. The quick pivot to Rio amplified the physical toll, where every slide and recovery tested a body already pushed by weeks of clay attrition. Tirante, sensing the opportunity, leaned into a patient approach, using slice backhands to disrupt rhythm and force Cerundolo into uncomfortable stretches.
The crowd’s energy shifted with the scoreline, murmurs rippling through the stands as Cerundolo’s topspin loops grew shallower. He countered with a 1–2 pattern—serve followed by crosscourt forehand—but Tirante absorbed it, redirecting pace with looping replies that kept points alive just long enough to wear down his opponent. This tactical chess on the slower surface highlighted how recent glory can mask brewing vulnerabilities.
Back flares, match fades abruptly
Just one game into the second set, Cerundolo called for the physio, receiving treatment on his lower back amid the court’s dusty haze. The brief intervention couldn’t stem the issue; as Tirante unleashed his seventh ace to reach 3-1, Cerundolo barely shifted, his retrieval instincts dulled by pain. He approached the net for a handshake, retiring in a moment that silenced the supportive fans.
For baseline players like these, clay’s endless demands—lateral slides, topspin duels—turn small ailments into campaign-enders. Tirante advances to face Francesco Passaro or Alejandro Tabilo, his focus now on capitalizing in a draw wide open without its top seed. Cerundolo’s path forward hinges on recovery, a recalibration that could redefine his 2026 clay season amid the tour’s relentless pace.
