Cerundolo cracks Etcheverry code, reaches Santiago SFs

Third time's the charm!

Argentine Francisco Cerundolo earned his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win in three attempts against countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Friday at the Movistar Chile Open, where the top seed is into the semi-finals. The 26-year-old rallied from a set down to oust the heavy-hitting Etcheverry 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

“Today was a really tough match,” said Cerundolo, who struck 31 winners, including 21 behind his forehand. “Tomy is an incredible player, incredible fighter, incredible friend. He’s one of my best friends on Tour. It’s really difficult to play against him.

“I think we both played really nervous today. We played well but I think we both were a little bit tight, nervous. I think we played a really good match and it was really close.”

Ice-cold Francisco! 🥶@FranCerundolo keeps his nerve in the all-🇦🇷 clash, defeating compatriot Etcheverry 4-6 6-3 7-5, to reach his 13th ATP Tour semi-final! 👏@chile_open | #MovistarChileOpen pic.twitter.com/nFYtSnzdC5

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 1, 2025

Cerundolo created 14 break chances, converting 11, including a crucial break at 5-5 in the decider, allowing the No. 26 player in the PIF ATP Rankings to serve out the two-hour, 54-minute battle. The fifth seed Etcheverry defeated Cerundolo in Santiago two years ago en route to a final appearance. At last year's US Open, Etcheverry again overcame Cerundolo in five sets.

Cerundolo will next face Serbian Laslo Djere, who ousted Jaime Faria 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 after two hours and 42 minutes. The 29-year-old saved 11 of the 14 break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The opposite Santiago semi-final will be an all-Argentine affair between third seed Sebastian Baez and Camilo Ugo Carabelli — a rematch of last week's Rio de Janeiro semi-final won by Baez in three sets.

On Friday evening, Baez beat Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-4 in an eventful match that featured 10 breaks of serve. The 24-year-old is bidding to not only retain his Santiago title, but also to win his second trophy in as many weeks after his Rio de Janeiro triumph. Baez is through to his fourth straight semi-final in Santiago and his 13th overall at tour-level — matching Cerundolo.

Carabelli, who played in and won his first ATP Tour quarter-final last week, repeated the feat with a 6-4, 6-3 victory against countryman Federico Coria. Having entered this week at a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 69, the Argentine has moved up another eight places to No. 61 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.