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Introducing Francisco Cerundolo – a 23-year-old Argentinian that is enjoying quite a year already. February 2022 has seen Cerundolo reach his highest ever ranking, officially breaking the world’s top 100. At just 23 years old, I certainly believe he has a bright future ahead of him. And as fate would have it, he snuck inside the top 10 at a tournament in his home country. When Cerundolo squeezed past Kecmanovic in Buenos Aires, he officially entered the ATP’s elite.
But as great and promising as this is, is Cerundolo really a guy we should be keeping an eye on for the future? Well, let’s take a moment to find out.
Cerundolo – A Rising Star on the ATP Tour
Let me kick this off by giving my own two cents. I believe that Cardundolo is a promising talent who could do great things in tennis. I’ve watched his progress over the last 12-24 months, and I must say, I’m impressed. But of course, there are some fundamental reasons as to why I feel that he is one to watch. All of this is discussed below.
Style of Play
Being an Argentinian, Cerundolo naturally has a game that is suited to the clay courts. After all, he has grown up grinding on the red clay in Argentina. But while many clay courters play quite a strategic and somewhat passive style of tennis, Cerundolo doesn’t. He has some serious firepower, especially on the forehand wing. This forehand has helped him to rip through many players in the last 12 months. However, he also has variety to his game, boasting great hands around the net and possessing a decent serve.
Composure
Cerundolo has been involved in some pretty tight matches of late. But one thing that has struck me the most concerning this is how calm he has been. He never seems to get too negative regarding his tennis. And his energy is also pretty good out there on the court. Having such a level head and being able to remain calm in big moments is obviously going to bode well for him moving forward.
Tough to Beat
Being a great ball striker is always a good thing. However, Cerundolo is also a very tough player to beat. He makes plenty of balls in court and doesn’t give too much away in the unforced error department. This not only frustrates opponents, but it forces them to play out of their comfort zone to beat him. And to be honest, since he is tough to beat, I can see him breaking down many players over the coming years.
Grand Slam Results
In 2021, Cerundolo managed to make the 3rd round of both Wimbledon and the US Open. This is great for a guy who was not inside the world’s top 100 at the time. And it’s all the more amazing that grass and hard courts are not his preferred surfaces. So on that note, the fact that he has enjoyed big wins on these prestigious stages is a clear positive.
