It won’t be an all-Argentine final at the 2026 Argentina Open, as many expected during the last days. At least not entirely. Top-ranked Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo (ATP singles ranked 19) will face off against Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi (22) in the decider, after both won their respective semifinal matchups.

Action at the Guillermo Vilas Center Court opened up on Saturday with the Argentine duel between Cerúndolo and Tomás Etcheverry (54). The 2025 finalist ensured he’ll have another take at the title, taking a 6-3, 7-5 win.

It was an even-fought match throughout the 1 hour and 51 minutes. With windy conditions forcing players to constantly adapt their games, both had to be solid from the baseline, and the duel was decided in the details. Cerúndolo showcased his class, taking over points at key moments with his forehand, against an Etcheverry who struggled to impose himself.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Cerúndolo said at the press conference afterwards. “It was a semifinal, going up against a lifelong friend, at Buenos Aires, in a full stadium.” 

The top-ranked Argentine said he was “happy with [his] performance,” which he called his “most consistent of the week.”

“The first time [Etcheverry and he] faced each other was when we were eight. We’ve played a thousand times, trained together, and travelled together. We know each other from tip to toe, so it was a very well-known match.”

It’ll be the third time Cerúndolo makes the Argentina Open final, having previously lost the 2021 and 2025 finals, first against Diego Schwartzman and last year against Joao Fonseca, but he insisted he only sees Sunday’s final as “another chance to win it.”

“The first time I got there, I was very inexperienced. It was my second ever ATP Tour-level tournament, my first final, and [Schwartzman] was eight or nine in the world, so he steamed past me,” Cerúndolo said. “Last year it was a much tighter affair, where [Fonseca] simply played better than me; he was very aggressive and hit his shots. I’ve worked all week to get to this final on Sunday and have another chance to win the title at home.”

The semifinals were the first set of games to feature professional men’s tennis governing body ATP president Andrea Gaudenzi among the crowd. His visit to Buenos Aires and Rio comes at a crucial time, as the ATP has recently announced a Masters 1000 tournament, the second-highest level of tournaments, to be played in February in Saudi Arabia from 2028, something that would put at risk the viability of the South American tournaments.

“I think it’s great he’s visiting,” said Cerúndolo. “That he sees the spectacle during the weekend, with lots of fans and great matches. The atmosphere of the games here in Argentina, in South America, is unique in the world.” 

Cerúndolo said it’d be “fundamental” for the South American swing and the region in general to get the ATP’s support.

“We’re not in the best moment calendar-wise, and we’re not in the best place geographically, but I think what you get to live here is more important than all that. I don’t think there should be any obstacles for the tournaments to continue, players to keep coming here, and enjoying it all,” he added.

Darderi’s hot streak continues

The second semifinal featured Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi (22), who faced Sebastián Báez (34). On the day he turned 24 years old, it was the Italian who once again picked up the victory — a repeat of their Australian Open duel — by 7-6 (2), 6-1.

The match proved tense, with a section of fans happy to heckle Darderi, originally from Villa Gesell on the Argentine coast but representing Italy since age 12. 

In a duel between two of the in-form players of the season, it was an incredibly hard-fought first set, with both players pushing aggressively. Without much in the way of differences, it went to the tiebreak, and Darderi was more decisive and took it without problems.

The second set was a very different affair. Báez looked shocked after losing the first and quickly conceded his serve twice, and allowed Darderi to run away with it.

“There’s always a moment where the match is broken, and I’ve learned to go through them very well,” said Darderi after the match. “Going on until the end and not letting key moments go on forever — that’s got a lot stronger in the last year.”

Darderi said he “feels very confident” going to the final in what he called a “special game” and a “very prestigious tournament that great players have won.”

Asked about the issue of his decision to defend Italy, he took the decision when he was “very young,” feeling it was “the best for his future.”

“I don’t have anything against Argentina,” he added. “At the time, I just felt it was the best for my life, to be able to fulfill my dreams. If people understand that, good, and if they don’t and don’t want to support me, that’s good too.”

Cerúndolo and Darderi will meet up in the final on Sunday, at 4 p.m. Argentine time.

Cover photo: Francisco Cerúndolo

© Buenos Aires Herald