Francisco Cerundolo, fresh off winning his fourth ATP title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires last week, was unable to maintain his winning streak at the Rio Open. After securing a victory in the first round against Mariano Navone, the world number 19 had to retire during his second round match against Thiago Agustin Tirante due to a lower back injury.
The injury forced Cerundolo to stop competing while trailing 6-2, 3-1, marking an abrupt end to his run in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond the injury, Cerundolo voiced strong frustrations over the tournament’s scheduling decisions, which he feels contributed to his early exit.
Cerundolo Criticizes Back-to-Back Match Scheduling at Rio Open
Following his retirement, Cerundolo expressed dissatisfaction with the Rio Open tournament organizers for scheduling him to play on consecutive days without granting his request for a rest day. This demanding schedule came despite his appeal, which he stated was ignored, preventing him from properly recovering before the second round.
He also implied that the tournament favored Brazilian players, highlighting that Joao Fonseca, the last remaining home player in the singles competition, benefited from a day off after his first round match. Cerundolo’s comments underscored his belief that the organizers’ decisions were influenced by national interests rather than player welfare.
“I didn’t expect to have to play two matches back-to-back between yesterday and today,”
Cerundolo remarked after losing to Tirante.
“I made the request so they wouldn’t schedule me like this, but they didn’t give me even a single chance. I can already imagine who they prioritize…”
In addition to withdrawing from singles, Cerundolo also pulled out of the doubles event at the Rio Open, where he was set to partner with Francisco Comesana.
Joao Fonseca Benefits from Cerundolo’s Early Exit
With Cerundolo’s departure, Brazilian player Joao Fonseca now holds a significant opportunity at the Rio Open. Having lost both of his prior matches this season before defeating Thiago Monteiro in the first round of Rio, Fonseca’s path has opened considerably due to the exit of the tournament’s top seed.
Fonseca is one of only two seeded players remaining in the Rio Open, alongside eighth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who competes in the opposite half of the draw. The 19-year-old Brazilian will use his scheduled day off as he prepares for a second round match against his friend Ignacio Buse.
Emerging Prospects for Rio Open’s Seeded Players
As Fonseca advances, the tournament dynamics have shifted, presenting a rare chance for the young Brazilian to make a deep run. With Cerundolo sidelined and other seeded players positioned on the opposite side, Fonseca’s remaining matches could define his trajectory in the professional circuit this season and beyond.
"No esperaba tener que jugar dos partidos seguidos entre ayer y hoy. Hice el pedido para que no me programen así, pero no me dieron ni una chance. Ya me imagino a quién priorizan…"
🗣️ Francisco Cerúndolo tras su retiro en #Río. pic.twitter.com/r88m4lYfS0
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) February 19, 2026
