Francisco Cerundolo continues impressive ‘Golden Swing’ in Santiago, Emilio Nava breaks American drought | ATP tour | Tennis

Match report

Cerundolo continues impressive ‘Golden Swing’ in Santiago, Nava breaks American drought

Nava becomes the first American quarterfinalist in tournament history
February 26, 2026

Top seed Francisco Cerundolo earned his sixth clay-court victory of the season at the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago on Thursday. The Argentinian recorded a 6-2, 6-2 opening round victory against Elmer Moller to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP 250 event.

Cerundolo lifted the trophy for the first time on home soil in Buenos Aires earlier this month, a moment the Argentine described as the ‘best moment of his career so far’. After a second-round exit in Rio de Janeiro, the world number 19 was dominant in his 71-minute victory over Moller.

“I grew up playing on clay my whole life,” Cerundolo said. “I developed my game on clay, so I always try to do that [well] on this surface. I’m doing better and better every year. I’m super happy with my level and how I played last week and this year. I feel very good on clay.”

In the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, the 27-year-old won 89 percent of his first-serve points and did not face a break point, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The Argentinian will next play Emilio Nava after the 24-year-old defeated Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 7-5, 6-3 to become the first American quarter-finalist in tournament history. The world number 79 is also the first American man to reach a tour-level quarter-final on South American clay since Rajeev Ram in Quito 2017.

Nava upset former No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Matteo Berrettini in his first match at the ATP 250 event and then produced a clean shot to beat Vallejo and reach his second ATP Tour quarterfinal.