Francisco Cerundolo keeps Miami love affair alive with upset over in-form Daniil Medvedev | ATP Tour

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Cerundolo retains Miami love affair alive with upset over in-form Medvedev

Argentine is into the fourth spherical for the fourth time in 5 appearances in Miami

March 23, 2026

Francisco Cerundolo’s affinity for the Miami Open presented by Itau reveals no signal of fading.

The 27-year-old Argentine produced a gritty 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 victory over in-form World No. 10 Daniil Medvedev on Monday to succeed in the fourth spherical on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion for the fourth time in 5 appearances.

“I felt good in my first-round match right here, and now I really feel manner higher,” mentioned Cerundolo, the No. 19 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, after his first High-10 win of the season. “I’m recovering that confidence. The extent was there, I used to be simply looking for it. However now, the Spherical of 16, so hopefully I can stick with it.”

Fran is feeling the love in Miami 💙@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen | @FranCerundolo pic.twitter.com/YpIlRxtmMC

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 23, 2026

Medvedev arrived in Miami filled with confidence after ending World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz’s excellent 16-0 begin to the 2026 season within the Indian Wells semi-finals, reasserting himself among the many sport’s elite. But Cerundolo persistently disrupted the previous World No. 1 along with his trademark forehand aggression.

Cerundolo has lengthy thrived in South Florida, highlighted by his semi-final run on debut in 2022 earlier than he added quarter-final showings in 2023 and 2025. Now concentrating on one other last-eight look, he’ll subsequent face Ugo Humbert, whom he defeated of their solely earlier Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Medvedev, in the meantime, was chasing a Tour-leading twentieth win of the season, having already claimed titles in Brisbane and Dubai. As a substitute, the 30-year-old exits Miami with a 19-5 document, in accordance with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Cerundolo dominated early, racing via the opening set and showing on track for a straight-sets win earlier than Medvedev rallied from 1-3 down within the second. The pair traded high-quality rallies within the Florida warmth, highlighted by an instinctive winner from Medvedev to finish a 22-ball change and ignited the gang.

The previous World No. 1 saved 4 break factors in a pivotal 3-4 sport. However Cerundolo in the end had the ultimate say, unleashing his forehand with authority to shut out victory after two hours, 17 minutes.

“It was a terrific match, tremendous powerful,” Cerundolo mentioned. “It was my first match towards Daniil. He’s most likely one of many solely guys on Tour who I’ve by no means performed. I didn’t know what to anticipate. He has had a terrific 12 months up to now, so I didn’t count on to be up 6-0 within the first set and a break up within the second.

“Out of the blue he began taking part in tremendous good. However I stored believing and stayed there within the match. Within the third set, it was a very good set from each and it ended up my manner.”