ATP Tour

Cerundolo: 'I started to notice that something wasn't good'

At two sets and a double break down to top seed Jannik Sinner, Juan Manuel Cerundolo could have been forgiven for thinking his hopes of reaching the third round at Roland Garros for the first time were all but gone on Thursday afternoon.

Instead, the Argentine stuck around in typically resilient fashion to expertly capitalise on the physical struggle that engulfed his No. 1-ranked opponent from midway through the third set. Cerundolo’s reward was a stunning 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 victory, snapping Sinner’s 30-match winning streak.

“Of course, I'm super happy with the match,” the 24-year-old Cerundolo after earning his maiden victory against a Top-10 opponent, let alone a World No. 1. “I mean, the match was almost lost, but of course, I stayed mentally during the whole match. I was prepared for battling as long as it takes. I was lucky that he cramped and his level went down, but of course, mine went up.

“I stayed mentally really focused on the match, trying to do my best every ball. I am super happy for making the win.”

Cerundolo was asked at what stage he had started to notice Sinner struggling in the hot conditions in Paris. The No. 56 player in the PIF ATP Rankings revealed that a change in Sinner’s gameplan provided the first indication.

“I started to see him [at] maybe 3-0 or the beginning of the third,” Cerundolo said. “I noticed that he started to make different kinds of serve and volleys to make the points shorter, then started to hit big forehands, like they were out of position, trying to also get the points short. So I started to notice that something wasn't good, because I mean, he was beating me pretty easy, I have to say. Why should he change the tactic and make the points shorter if he doesn't need to? I started to feel [something was different].

“Then he kind of moved his legs to do something, and also I think his team started to cheer him up. I thought, ‘Something's weird. Doesn't seem like [it matches] the score’. It was 6-3, 6-2, 3-0, and why all that, you know? So I started to notice a little bit, and I tried to fight a lot to stay mentally [with it] and to keep pushing, to play my best and see if maybe he went a little bit down and try to make my best. Of course, that happened, and the thing that was the key for me to stay mentally and to come back from that score.”

Cerundolo, who will take on #NextGenATP Spaniard Martin Landaluce for a fourth-round spot at the clay major, also spoke about the kind words Sinner offered at the net after match point.

“He's a great guy,” the Argentine said. “He told me, ‘Good match for [you]’. He congratulated me and he said, ‘Good luck for the rest of the tournament’. Of course, I said I feel sorry for him cramping and feeling bad, but that was the exchange in the net.”