For a moment it was as if the Manolo Santana Stadium had teleported to the heart of Buenos Aires. Surrounded by stands that were peppered with sky-blue and white flags and chants not unlike those that might ring around the Bombonera, Francisco Cerúndolo claimed a big scalp to earn his ticket to the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open. The Argentine defeated two-time champion Alexander Zverev (7-5, 6-3) for the second edition in a row, underlining his candidacy to the throne at the ATP Masters 1000 in the Spanish capital.

“I’m really happy because I love playing here”, said the South American after toppling the tournament’s top seed. “I said last year when I beat him here on Court 2; he loves the Manolo Santana Stadium. It’s my first win on this court and I feel really happy. Sascha is an incredible player and I have a great relationship with him. I feel really happy to pick up another win and to be back in the quarters”.

A day after the blackout that brought the tournament to a screeching halt, Cerúndolo took it upon himself to light up Madrid with a dazzling performance. The Argentine is not afraid to look the biggest names on the tour in the eye, and as a result his record against members of the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings is now 15-15. His win today is a warning shot for anyone who is dreaming of glory in the Caja Magica.

“I think I’ve really improved my consistency, and my capacity to keep fighting”, explained Cerúndolo, who also believes he is perfectly capable of digging deep when things are not going as planned. “If I’m not playing well, I can keep going and keep trying. I think it’s something I’ve been doing a lot this year. I’ve learned to play ugly, to win matches and to be able to get wins without my best tennis”.

The most recent results would seem to back up his belief; the Argentine is one of the best players when it comes to finding solutions on the fly. Fran is the player with the most wins on clay this season (15) and only one victory separates him from the leadership of the 2025 ranking, which is currently held by the Australian Alex de Minaur and Carlos Alcaraz. However, he could usurp them both if reaches the throne in the Spanish capital.

“My first year here was a disaster, I didn’t like it at all. Last year we started to play better at altitude, because I’d never liked it. Now I’m in the quarters again but I think I’m doing better than last year. I feel more comfortable, a bit more confident. Winning a match of this stature is very big for me”.

“The ball flies faster here. I’m starting to understand how to control it better. I’m a player who hits the ball hard, I like attacking. It was just understanding how to play here, at altitude. There are players who play well, who use their feet better, the serve is more important… I’ve been practising every day to feel more comfortable”.

On a day when a number of big names fell by the wayside, including Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, a three-time ATP Masters 1000 champion on clay, Cerúndolo is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. The South American spoke of the respect he has for the players still standing in the Caja Magica.

“Nowadays men’s tennis is very open, there are a lot of players who play well. They may be some favourites like Sascha, who is number two in the world”, he explained. “But then there are a lot who are capable of winning tournaments. Now I play Mensik, who just won in Miami. He’s young and powerful, he serves like an animal. I don’t think I’m favourite in those matches, I’d say 50-50. We have similar rankings. I think the draw is very open, some players have more confidence than others. The general level is very high among the players that are left”.

Above all, Fran has the added advantage of feeling like he is competing at home. His circumstances both on and off the court bode well for his upcoming matches.

“Apart from Buenos Aires, this is the tournament I feel the most support at”, he admitted. “I love Madrid. It’s special to be able to speak Spanish for a few days. The food is fantastic. I love the city, I have a lot of friends here. It’s a good combination to have quality time off the court, and that helps me perform better on it”.

In Madrid, Cerúndolo’s dream is looking increasingly possible, particularly if the Argentinian contingent of the Spanish capital continues to turn out in force.