In an electrifying display of skill, the 103rd-ranked tennis pro, Laslo Djere, has surged into his sixth ATP final at the ATP 250 event in Santiago. This milestone match marks Djere’s 300th appearance on the ATP tour and it was an impressive one; he triumphed over Francisco Cerundolo in a grueling match that lasted a little over two hours, with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
The fiery Serbian star is now set to battle it out for his first ATP title since his victory in Sardinia in 2020. His opponent: another Argentine, Sebastian Baez. Djere, who made it to the semi-finals at the ATP 500 event in Rio, is looking to go the extra mile in Chile, having already outperformed Cerundolo by 12 points in the previous match.
The high-stakes game vividly showcased Djere’s experience and tactical prowess. He strategically dominated the second serve and crucial turning points of the match, successfully fending off five out of six break points. Despite losing the second set, Djere managed to bounce back, applying relentless pressure on Cerundolo.
For Cerundolo, the match proved challenging, seeing him surrender 41% of points in his games and offering Djere nine break opportunities. The Argentine player faltered four times, his journey concluding in the semi-finals. The match statistics further underscore Djere’s dominance, with the Serbian star landing 15 winners and 36 unforced errors, compared to Cerundolo’s nine direct points and 43 mistakes.
With a slight edge in service winners and net play, Djere managed to secure an early break in the deciding set. This was followed by a consistent, reliable serving performance that saw him take the lead. Cerundolo, however, squandered a break opportunity in the second game and failed to capitalize on game points in the subsequent one.
The third game saw Cerundolo face two break points, and a double fault on the second handed Djere a 2-1 lead. Djere maintained his momentum, holding at 15 in the next game and landing a forehand return winner in the fifth game for a 4-1 lead.
Cerundolo attempted a comeback in the second set, serving stronger and only allowing Djere one break opportunity. Djere, however, was unfazed. He successfully deflected a break point in the first game with a backhand winner and created a break chance at 2-1. Cerundolo managed to level the playing field with a forced error and held for 2-2. The top seed then upped his game, breaking Djere’s serve on the third opportunity and securing a 4-3 lead.
Despite the mounting tension, Cerundolo managed to hold after a deuce in the eighth game and served for the set at 5-4. He overturned a 30-0 deficit and clinched the second set point after Djere’s forehand error. This leveled the match at 1-1, forcing a final decider set.
The final set saw Djere regain his earlier composure and form, converting the second break point following a poor forehand drive-volley by Cerundolo. Djere continued his strong performance, holding after a deuce in the third game and extending his lead to 3-0. Despite Cerundolo’s best efforts, including two fine holds and a forehand down the line winner, Djere maintained his lead with an ace and a service winner for a 5-2 advantage.
The eighth game saw Cerundolo serving to keep the match alive. Despite facing two match points, he managed to hold after Djere’s backhand error. But Djere was relentless. Serving for the win at 5-3, he landed an unreturned serve for a match point. Cerundolo managed to save it, but Djere’s powerful backhand down the line winner earned him another match point, which he seized with a powerful serve, securing his place in his sixth ATP final.
