Elmer Moller: Tirante Advances After Cerundolo’s Retirement at Rio Open
Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante secured a significant victory at the Rio Open presented by Claro on Wednesday evening, defeating top seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 3-1 after Cerundolo was forced to retire due to a debilitating back injury. The match marked a surprising turn of events for the ATP 500 event.
Cerundolo entered the Rio Open fresh off a triumphant run to the title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires. He began his campaign in Rio de Janeiro with a confident straight-sets win against Mariano Navone, signaling his potential for a deep run. However, his hopes were dashed in the second-round clash against Tirante.
A Disappointing End for Cerundolo
“It’s not good to win like this, especially with Fran, one of my friends,” Tirante commented after the match. “Any moment, I didn’t see anything coming. I knew that he was very tired from last week, so I had to improve myself on the court and focus on my game.”
The pivotal moment arrived after just one game in the second set. Cerundolo signaled for the physio and received treatment for his ailing back. Despite the intervention, he was unable to continue, visibly struggling with each movement.
Tirante capitalized on the situation, firing an ace to take a 3-1 lead – his seventh of the match, as reported by Infosys ATP Stats. Cerundolo barely reacted to the serve, prompting him to approach the net and concede the match to his friend.
What’s Next for Tirante?
With the victory, Tirante advances to the next round where he will face either Francesco Passaro or Alejandro Tabilo. This win represents a significant opportunity for the young Argentine to make a deeper impact on the tournament.
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