Preview ATP Argentina Open 2026 Final | Francisco Cerundolo seeks home redemption in clay-specialist duel against Darderi

This Saturday, the finalists of the Argentina Open were decided – the first event of the South American Golden Swing – and it will have the two favourites of the draw competing for the title. Local Francisco Cerundolo seeks revenge for last year’s final defeat and to bring glory back to a local player.

He will have a challenging rival in Luciano Darderi, champion of four ATP 250 titles on clay courts – three of them in 2025 – who will aim to win a new trophy on the clay of his birthplace. Darderi, born in Buenos Aires, is Italian-naturalised through his paternal grandfather.

The leader of Argentine tennis in recent years reaches the final with the pending task of returning the title to a local player and avenging the two finals he lost in his homeland. Cerundolo – the only top-20 player in the draw – fell in the 2021 final against Diego Schwartzman and again in 2025 against Joao Fonseca. This time, unlike previous years, he comes in as the favourite – at least in terms of ranking – and with local support, he will look for the 4th title of his career – or for the first time in his home country.

Cerundolo had a smooth path through the tournament, achieving comfortable wins from his debut in the second round – after receiving a first-round bye. On a path full of specialists, he defeated Bolivian Hugo Dellien (6-0, 7-6), Czech Vit Kopriva (6-4, 6-3), and in the semifinals, former top-30 Tomas Etcheverry – also a former Roland Garros quarterfinalist.

“Just win the last match. I think that’s the only thing I have to do now,” Cerundolo said in his on-court interview. “My first final here [was] against probably peak Schwartzman in his best moment of his career, [ninth] in the world. I wasn’t mature enough to play those matches. He killed me.”

“Then last year I played an incredible (Joao) Fonseca,” added the Latin American No. 1, who has a 15-7 record in Buenos Aires. “I think we played an amazing final, but he was a little bit better than me. So tomorrow I will try to be a little bit better than the opponent.”

The Argentine-naturalised Italian Luciano Darderi reconnects with a great tennis season just as the return to clay courts begins. He already showed a few weeks ago that he is ready to take a step forward this season, after reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open – only to lose to the 2-time defending champion Jannik Sinner.

Last year, the world No. 22 took advantage of clay-court tournaments to accumulate wins and titles – becoming champion in Marrakech, Bastad, and Umag – and adding his 2024 Cordoba title. Darderi is undefeated in finals and, just like his rival in the final, reaches the decisive match without having dropped a set along the way.

After receiving a first-round bye, he defeated Chilean Tomas Barrios (6-1, 6-3), Spaniard Pedro Martinez (7-5, 6-1), and a remarkable victory over 4th seed Sebastian Baez (7-6, 6-1), the undisputed king of the Golden Swing in recent years, with 4 titles and two finals in the clay-court tournaments of February in South America.

“I think the first set was really tough. He played a really good level. But I stayed focused in the tie-break. I think that was the key. I served really well all the match,” commented Darderi – who is one win away from securing his first time in the top-20. “Today is my birthday, so it’s really special here playing in Buenos Aires. All of my family is here, my team, everyone is here, so I’m very happy.”