Fran Cerúndolo’s relief after reaching a milestone in his career with his hard-fought victory against Hewitt’s “clone” in Australia

Fran Cerúndolo, the best Argentine tennis player today, had started 2024 on the wrong foot. After the best season of his career (including two titles) in 2023, he suffered two first round defeats earlier this year and for This Sunday he had complete relief after triumphing in his debut at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, in which he also marked a milestone in his personal best.

When he connected that winning right hand in parallel, he waved both arms several times accompanied by a “let’s go” that echoed throughout the John Cain Stadium complex in Melbourne and clenched his fists tightly, looking at the sector where the his work team, in which he recently added to Franco Davinoformer coach of the Argentines Gastone Gaudio AND Juan Martin del Potroamong other Argentine legends.

For number 22 in the ATP rankings it was the first five-set win of his career, that’s why overtaking Dane Sweeny (256th) had so much more experience. The final plate marked with partial 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6 and 6-2 in three hours and 23 minutes of play, but also 68 unforced errors for Cerúndolo, which also explains his relief at the end.

“I’m still nervous, there are some things, but I’m happy. The only goal was to win, it didn’t matter how and how I played or how much I played. Now I’m playing on Wednesday, right? I’ll have to recover and I think that’s good for me.”The 25-year-old from Buenos Aires managed to say he lost on his debut at the ATP 250 in Hong Kong and Auckland.

In the next round he will face the Bulgarian Fabian Marozsan (executioner of Marin Cilic in four sets) and if he won he would equal his best score in the competition. Last year, at this same tournament, Cerúndolo added his first Grand Slam victories by beating now-retired Argentine Guido Pella and Frenchman Corentin Moutet, before falling in the third instance to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime .

“Marzsan is a very talented player, I saw little of him last year, he plays very well. It’s a new game and he beat Cilic”He explained.

Báez and Díaz Acosta also advance, close to scoring

The first day of play in Australia saw an increased Argentine presence, despite 15 members of the Legion failing to qualify to enter the main draw. The other joy of the first day has been delivered Sebastiano Baez (26th), who beat the American JJ Wolf (54) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and abandonment.

For the second time in his career he will play the second round of the first Slam, where he will face the South American duel against the Colombian Daniele Galan -one of the best doubles players on the circuit-, who defeated the Australian Kubler in a five-set marathon.

The two defeats of the day had different nuances. Facundo Diaz Acosta He took to the field immediately after Cerúndolo’s victory and was close to the top: the world number 93 had to mistreat the American Taylor Fritz (12), who eventually won in five sets with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and 6-4.

Not even Cordoban could pass Pedro Cachin (72), who collided with the Dutchman on court 17 Jasper de Jong (148) for 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and 6-4.

Between Sunday evening and Monday morning in Argentina there will be more presence of Albiceleste, starting from the first hours of Tomas Etcheverry (30) compared to expert English speakers Andy Murray (former No. 1 and current 44) at Kia Arena; the rosary Federico Coria (85) against the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang (53) in court 7 and Rosarina Nadia Podoroska (63) before Tamara Zidansek (99), in the first round on court 8, from 9pm on Sunday – Argentine time – on ESPN and Star+.