ATP Cordoba: Juan Manuel Cerundolo - the debutant storms into the final
Juan Manuel Cerundolo reached the final of his first ever ATP tournament. The 19-year-old qualifier defeated Federico Coria in the semifinals of Cordoba's ATP Tour 250 event and meets Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 28, 2021, 08:40 am
Things are going well for debutants on the ATP tour this year: Aslan Karatsev made his first appearance at a Grand Slam tournament, and Juan Manuel Cerundolo is currently doing well in Cordoba. The 19-year-old qualifier had not played a match in a main field of the ATP Tour up to this week - and will be in the final on his first attempt. Cerundolo defeated his Argentine compatriot Federico Coria 6: 4, 4: 6 and 6: 2 and meets the experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final. Who also had to fight with Facundo Bagnis, ultimately won 7: 5, 5: 7 and 6: 3.
In the ATP world rankings, Juan Manuel Cerundolo was listed at position 355 before the Cordoba week, after the successes in the last few days he will advance to at least 219th place. Cerundolo is the first debutant to make it to the finals since the Spaniard Santiago Ventura succeeded in 2004 in Casablanca.
"To be honest, I still don't know what happened on the court," said Cerundolo after his semi-final success. The teenager sees himself as a counter-player. "I like to beat at my opponent's pace. When you play against someone like Coria who puts in a lot of pressure, you have to try something yourself. Otherwise things will get complicated."