Francisco Cerundolo continues impressive ‘Golden Swing’ in Santiago, Emilio Nava breaks American drought | ATP Tour

Match Report

Cerundolo continues spectacular ‘Golden Swing’ in Santiago, Nava breaks American drought

Nava turns into first American quarter-finalist in match historical past

February 26, 2026

High seed Francisco Cerundolo earned his sixth clay-court win of the season on Thursday on the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago. The Argentine recorded an opening-round 6-2, 6-2 triumph towards Elmer Moller to achieve the quarter-finals on the ATP 250 occasion.

Cerundolo lifted the trophy on dwelling soil in Buenos Aires for the primary time earlier this month, a second which the Argentine described because the ‘greatest second of his profession to this point’. After a second-round exit in Rio de Janeiro, the World No. 19 was dominant all through his 71-minute win towards Moller.

“I grew up my complete life taking part in on clay,” Cerundolo mentioned. “I developed my recreation on clay, so I attempt to all the time do [well] on this floor. I’ve been doing higher and higher yearly. I’m tremendous proud of my stage and the way I’ve been taking part in the final week and this 12 months. I’m feeling actually good on clay.”

Within the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly, the 27-year-old received 89 per cent of his first-serve factors and didn’t face a break level, in response to Infosys ATP Stats.

The Argentine will subsequent play Emilio Nava after the 24-year-old defeated Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 7-5, 6-3 to turn into the primary American quarter-finalist in match historical past. The World No. 79 can be the primary American man to achieve a tour-level quarter-final on South American clay since Rajeev Ram in 2017 in Quito.

Nava upset the previous No. 6 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings Matteo Berrettini in his first match on the ATP 250 occasion after which produced a clean-hitting show to down Vallejo and attain his second ATP Tour quarter-final.