Argentine tennis player Francisco Cerúndolo suffered a four-set elimination in the US Open round of 16 against Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, punctuated by on-court friction with his coach, former Olympic champion Nicolás Massú, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
A Fourth-Round Exit on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Francisco Cerúndolo’s run at the U.S. Open ended in the round of 16 following a hard-fought defeat against Belgian opponent Alexander Blockx. The match lasted 3 hours and 16 minutes on Arthur Ashe, the tournament’s primary venue, where the South American top-ranked player fell by scores of 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, and 7-5.
Both athletes battled physical hurdles under the New York lights. Cerúndolo struggled with physical ailments and experienced cramps during the encounter, while Blockx dealt with lower back pain that required medical attention on court.
Tension and Friction Along the Sideline
Frustration boiled over during the third set as the match slipped away. Cerúndolo, who entered the tournament ranked 25th in the ATP standings, directed his anger toward his player box, where Nicolás Massú and his staff watched from the sideline.
Camera broadcasts captured a heated exchange where Cerúndolo vented his frustration directly at Massú and his physical trainer, Mariano Gaute.
In a moment caught on broadcast cameras during the third set, Cerúndolo shouted directly at his corner, exclaiming that ustedes son dos tumbas
(you are two graves) toward Massú and physical trainer Mariano Gaute. The tension extended to include kinesitherapy staff as well, with the Argentine also directing his complaints toward kinesiólogo Esteban García Giménez who accompanied the team at the edge of the court.
According to reporting from La Nación, the Argentine player addressed his team with acidity multiple times during the contest, feeling that he was receiving insufficient tactical direction from his box.
Reflections After the Defeat
Speaking to reporters after the match, Cerúndolo expressed deep regret over missed opportunities while acknowledging the quality of his opponent’s performance on court.
Francisco Cerúndolo acknowledged that he was angry and fired up, noting that he had several chances and multiple break points that he could not convert, via emol.com.
The Argentine noted that despite holding multiple break points throughout the clash, Blockx raised his level when it mattered most, neutralizing attack patterns with deep defense and clutch serving. Blockx previously eliminated Chilean player Tomás Barrios in the opening round of the tournament.
Francisco Cerúndolo stated that he gave his all, noting that his opponent played a great match, started to flow, and defended very well, while admitting he was surprised by the number of balls Blockx managed to retrieve, adding that he did not play a bad match, felt angry about letting the chance slip away, but acknowledged that many of those opportunities were won by his opponent, via emol.com.
Following the conclusion of the round of 16 matches in New York, the tournament bracket advanced toward the quarterfinals. In the other matchups confirmed for the hard-court Grand Slam, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz prepares to face local player Ben Shelton, while Americans Francis Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen square off in another pairing. On the upper half of the draw, Alexander Blockx advances to meet the winner of the clash between Karen Khachanov and Learner Tien. The remaining quarterfinal bracket paths feature Arthur Gea meeting Botic Van de Zandschulp, and Alexander Zverev facing Luciano Darderi.
The Massú Partnership and Ranking Trajectory
The partnership between Cerúndolo and Massú began in early June, bringing an immediate competitive spark to the Argentine’s season. Before arriving in New York, Massú helped guide his player to an ATP 500 title at Queen’s and accumulated 10 victories against seven defeats overall.
The collaboration pushed Cerúndolo upward in the men’s tennis hierarchy. Starting the partnership at the 27th spot in the ATP rankings, he climbed as high as 20th before entering the final Grand Slam of the season at number 25. Despite the fourth-round exit in New York, his tournament progression ensures a slight bump to the 23rd position when the updated rankings are released.
