Andrey Rublev's Nitto ATP Finals hopes were dented after suffering a first-round exit against Francisco Cerundolo at the Paris Masters. (More Tennis News)
Rublev, who currently occupies eighth place in ܫthe Race to Turin, cut a frꦫustrated figure as he was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) by his Argentine opponent.
A semi-finalist at the indoor ATP Masters event 12 months ago, the sixth seed brokeꦕ early for a commandi♏ng 5-2 lead in the opening set.
However🅷, Cerundolo came roaring back, breaking twice for a 6-5 advantage, before drawing first bloodꦜ in the tie-break.
Once again, Rublev was in control of the second set, with his second break putting🐟 him 4-2 to the good.
But Cerundolo hit back once more, breaking in game eight and then prevailing agai𝓀n in the tie-break for the 100th ATP win of his career.
His reward is a showdꦏown with 🍨Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-3 6-4.
Data Debrief: Rublev's ATP Finals fate in the air
It took two hours and 18 minutes, but it was worth the wait for Cerundolo, who won his fourth match in seven against a top-10 opponen🔥t in 2024.
The Argentine struck 35 winners, while wi😼nning 86% (six out of seven) of points at t💃he net.
As for Rublev, whose frustration culminated in him lashing the 🦩racquet against his knee, he must now nervously await his ATP Finals fate.
Tsitsipas, Alex de Minaur and Grigor Dimitrov are among the players in꧟ action this w🐼eek who could deny the Madrid Open champion his fifth successive appearance at the year-end championship.
