Tennis – Francisco Cerundolo delivered a performance to remember on Sunday as the Argentine star captured the Argentina Open title with a straight-sets victory over Italy’s Luciano Darderi. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the top seed secured a 6-4, 6-2 win to claim the fourth ATP Tour trophy of his career and his first on home soil.

The 27-year-old had previously fallen short in the Buenos Aires final on two occasions, making this victory particularly meaningful at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Early Breaks Set the Tone

Cerundolo established control from the outset, breaking Darderi’s serve early in both sets. While the match score suggests a comfortable win, several games were tightly contested. In the opening set especially, rallies were intense, and multiple games featured break-point opportunities as both players searched for momentum.

Despite some inconsistency on serve, Cerundolo dictated play from the baseline. His heavy groundstrokes repeatedly pushed Darderi behind the line, preventing the Italian from building sustained pressure. After one hour and 37 minutes on the outdoor clay, the Argentine closed the match with a decisive inside-out forehand, drawing loud celebrations from the home crowd.

A Long-Awaited Home Victory

For Cerundolo, the triumph carried emotional weight. Having finished runner-up at the same ATP 250 event in 2021 and again earlier in his career, lifting the trophy in Buenos Aires marked a personal milestone.

He described the win as the most significant moment of his professional journey so far, highlighting the importance of succeeding in front of family and friends. The Argentine emphasized that he maintained an aggressive approach throughout the final, aiming to control rallies and avoid allowing his opponent to dictate play.

The victory also places him among a select group of Argentine champions at the tournament, which has been held annually since 2001. Cerundolo becomes the seventh home player to win the event.

Statistical Edge on Clay

Although Darderi entered the final as the second seed and showed strength behind his first serve — winning 73 percent of those points — he struggled when forced into second-serve situations, claiming just 24 percent. A total of 29 unforced errors further complicated his efforts to shift momentum.

Cerundolo’s comfort on clay proved decisive. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, he has now recorded 46 match wins on the surface, the highest total on the ATP Tour during that period. Darderi sits just behind him in that category, underlining both players’ effectiveness on clay courts.

The Argentine’s ability to step inside the baseline and take time away from his opponent was a recurring theme in the final. Even during longer exchanges, he remained patient before accelerating the pace to finish points.

Rankings Impact After Buenos Aires Final

Despite the loss, Darderi leaves Buenos Aires with positive news. The Italian is set to rise to a career-best world No. 21 in the ATP Rankings when the updated list is released. Cerundolo, currently ranked No. 19, is expected to maintain his position following the title run.

For the Buenos Aires crowd, the result offered a rare opportunity to celebrate a local champion on home clay. For Cerundolo, it was the fulfillment of an ambition that had narrowly eluded him in previous years.

With the clay court season gaining momentum, both finalists now shift their focus to upcoming tournaments, carrying confidence built from a high-level week in Argentina.