The first adventure of Juan Manuel Cerúndolo (19 years old) in the NextGen ATP Finals can end on Thursday at the Allianz Globe in Milan, since the Argentine fell this Wednesday on the second day against Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (4-1, 4-2, 3-4 and 4-2 in 1h16) and is one step away from mathematical elimination. It will occur if Carlos Alcaraz later wins Brandon Nakashima, who in that case would be played for the semifinals in a direct duel with Rune.
The inexperience in tournaments of the highest level on hard court took its toll on Cerúndolo (he won three Challengers this course, but all on gravel), who in a short time had already lost the first two sets to the drive of the 18-year-old Dane, much more active and dynamic. The Buenosairean suffered a lot with his serve and gave several break opportunities to his rival, who took advantage of a couple of them in the first two sets. He only had one and did not convert it. He was also less aggressive, an important aspect in this short and fast format of the U21 Masters.
But in the third set, three double faults in a row by Rune gave him a chance to try and fight for the win. The Gentofte tennis player, who has a fairly good record this year in Challengers (36-9) and is the one who has made the biggest leap this year in the ranking of the eight who are in Milan, did not allow it. He has gone from 511 to 109. After losing to Alcaraz on Tuesday, victory allows him to dream of crosses.
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