Overview

While learning to play tennis on clay, Francisco Cerundolo has proven to be a dangerous opponent on all surfaces, this year claiming his second ATP Tour career singles title at Eastbourne on grass, reaching the final at Lyon on clay, and the last eight at the Miami Masters 1000 on hard courts. The Argentine is making his first appearance with John McEnroe’s Team World at Laver Cup Vancouver 2023.

Off Court

Francisco was born into a family of sports lovers: his father, Alejandro, played pro tennis, and his younger brother, Juan Manuel, is a top 100 ATP player, while his sister, Constanza, plays elite-level hockey. ‘Fran’ – as he is nicknamed – started playing tennis at the age of five and his parents now run a tennis academy in Buenos Aires. Since taking up a tennis scholarship at the University of Carolina, he has continued to study management through remote learning at the University of Palermo. An avid singer, his favorite musicians are Bad Bunny and Bob Marley, while his tennis idols growing up were Roger Federer and David Nalbandian.

Career

Cerundolo defeated Team World teammate Tommy Paul in the final at Eastbourne this year, becoming the first Argentine to win an ATP Tour grass-court title since Javier Frana in 1995 (Nottingham). Along with his runners-up finish at Lyon to Arthur Fils, he was a semifinalist at Bastad and a quarterfinalist at Rome, Barcelona, Miami, Buenos Aires and Cordoba. He pushed No.6-ranked Holger Rune to five sets in the Round of 16 at Roland Garros, upsetting teammate Taylor Fritz in the third round. Cerundolo’s Rome campaign included a victory over No.8-ranked Jannik Sinner, while at the Miami Masters he dispatched Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round. He won his first ATP singles title in 2022 at Bastad, defeating No.5 Ruud and upsetting No.8 Rublev the following week en route to the Hamburg semifinals.

2023 Season Highlights

Winner: Eastbourne
Runner-up: Lyon
Semifinals: Bastad
Quarterfinals: Rome, Barcelona, Miami, Buenos Aires, Cordoba
R16: Roland Garros
3R: Australian Open