Rio de Janeiro
Top seed Cerundolo retires in Rio de Janeiro due to injury
Tirante advances to the quarter-finals
February 19, 2026
Francisco Cerundolo was forced to retire against Thiago Agustin Tirante in Rio on Wednesday.
By ATP staff
Argentinian Thiago Agustin Tirante led compatriot and top seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 3-1 in the second round of the Rio Open presented by Claro on Wednesday evening when Cerundolo retired due to a back injury.
Fresh from winning his hometown title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, Cerundolo made a good start at the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro with a straight sets victory against Mariano Navone. But he couldn’t get through his match with Tirante.
“It’s not good to win like this, especially with Fran, one of my friends. Every moment I saw nothing,” Tirante said. “I knew he was very tired from last week, so I had to improve on the field and focus on myself.”
After one game in the second set, Cerundolo asked to visit the physio and received treatment on his back. However, this did not allow him to continue much longer.
Tirante hit an ace to take a 3-1 lead – his seventh ace of the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats – and Cerundolo barely moved for the ball. The top seed then approached the net to shake his friend’s hand and withdraw.
Tirante will next face Francesco Passaro or Alejandro Tabilo.
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