Francisco Cerundolo extends Golden Swing run with Santiago win
francisco cerundolo defeated Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the Chile Open in Santiago, extending his run in the Golden Swing and moving into the third round where a quarterfinal against Emilio Nava awaits.
Francisco Cerundolo dominates on clay
The world number 19, seeded No. 1 in Santiago, controlled the match from early on after dropping the opening game. Cerundolo, who did not play in the tournament's first round, reeled off five consecutive games to close the opening set in 29 minutes, breaking Moller twice in that stretch. The Argentine continued to apply pressure in the second set, immediately breaking serve and never surrendering a break point before converting a second break to finish the match comfortably and advance to the next round.
How the Moller match unfolded
Elmer Moller, a 22-year-old Dane ranked 127th, began the match strongly by winning the first game, but struggled to hold serve after that early lead. Moller had entered the event off a first-round victory over Roman Andres Burruchaga — the biggest win of his career to date — but his serve remained a persistent vulnerability in Santiago. Cerundolo capitalized on that weakness repeatedly, using consistent returns and timely breaks to close out each set 6-2.
Golden Swing implications for Cerundolo
This event is the final leg of the 2026 Golden Swing, and Cerundolo is pursuing his second title of the swing. A deep run in Santiago would move him closer to a new career-high ranking, an outcome that has been identified as a possible result if he maintains his current level. The Argentine's efficient serving and break conversion in Santiago are observable indicators that bolster his standing among the favorites for the title.
Next up: Cerundolo vs Emilio Nava
Cerundolo is set to face Emilio Nava in the quarterfinals. Nava reached this stage after an opening-round win over Matteo Berrettini and has been described as playing some of the best tennis of his career. While Nava has demonstrated form and confidence on the clay, match previews note that he lacks the same degree of firepower shown by the No. 1 seed. If Cerundolo continues to generate breaks and protect his service games at the level seen against Moller, he will enter that matchup as the statistical favorite.
- Key takeaways: Cerundolo advanced 6-2, 6-2; Moller’s serve remained a liability; Cerundolo now moves to a quarterfinal with Nava.
With the Golden Swing title within reach, Cerundolo's Santiago performance offers clear, measurable momentum: decisive set wins, multiple breaks per match, and the top seed status that frames him as the player to beat in the closing stages of the clay-court swing.
