Cerundolo and Baez Advance at Movistar Chile Open

Santiago, Chile — Francisco Cerundolo and Sebastian Baez showcased their skills at the Movistar Chile Open on Wednesday, making their way into the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 clay-court tournament.

Cerundolo, the tournament’s top seed, fought hard to secure his first match win in Santiago by defeating Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(5). The match lasted two hours and 29 minutes, with Cerundolo recovering from a break down in the third set. “I am really happy to get the win,” Cerundolo remarked after the match. “I was feeling really good at the start of the second set; I felt in control of the match and was playing really well.”

After leading in the third set, Cerundolo faced increased pressure from Hanfmann, who surged back into contention. “The past two years I came here I didn’t play well, but today I felt good,” he added. The victory improved Cerundolo’s record against Hanfmann to 4-1.

Next up for the Argentine will be fellow countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who defeated 2021 champion Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-4. Etcheverry currently leads their Head2Head series 2-0, having previously won a match in Santiago two years ago.

In another significant match on Wednesday, Serbia’s Laslo Djere reached the quarter-finals by easing past fourth seed Pedro Martinez 6-1, 6-4. Djere, who reached the semifinals earlier this month in Buenos Aires, will face Portugal’s Jaime Faria, who overcame Brazilian Gustavo Heide in a tight three-set match.

Meanwhile, Federico Coria of Argentina advanced rapidly into the second round, crushing local wild card Tomas Barrios Vera 6-1, 6-0 in a match that resumed after being suspended due to power outages in the area.

The Movistar Chile Open continues to gain momentum with five Argentines now in the last eight, including Baez, who defended his title against Francisco Comesana 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5).

“It’s always very hard to play with Fran. He’s a great guy,” Baez said about facing Comesana, whom he trained with. “But I’m happy to be in the next round.” Baez’s victory marked his sixth consecutive win and extended his winning streak on clay courts.

The quarter-finals promise to be thrilling, featuring talented players showcasing their skills in Santiago as the tournament progresses.