SANTIAGO/WASHINGTON, February 28, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
When it comes to playing on clay, there’s none better these days on the ATP Tour than Francisco Cerundolo.
On Friday, the World No. 19 from Argentina secured his 150th career ATP Tour victory – the first currently active Argentine player to reach the milestone – and it propelled him to the semifinal round of the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago.
The 27-year-old Cerundolo secured his 10th victory of the season and notched his 18th tour-level semifinal with an impressive 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 79 Emilio Nava of the United States. The quarterfinal match lasted just 66 minutes on Court Jaime Fillol at the Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica in the Chilean capital city.
In reaching his second semifinal this season, following his run to the Buenos Aires title earlier this month, Cerundolo also secured his 49th victory on clay since the start of the 2024 season, which is tops on the ATP Tour. He’s still very much alive in his quest to win two of the three Golden Swing singles titles, where he’s won seven of his last eight matches on clay.
150 @FranCerundolo with a milestone victory, cruising past Nava 6-1, 6-1 to reach the Santiago semi-finals!@chile_open | #ChileOpen pic.twitter.com/6NkzI2Rlp5
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 27, 2026
Against Nava, who was the first U.S. quarterfinalist at a South American tournament on clay since 2017, Cerundolo dropped just five points on his first serve, winning 21 of 26 (81 percent), and broke his opponent’s serve five times in 13 opportunities. Although he hit just seven winners, Cerundolo benefitted from 31 unforced errors by the American. The Argentine No. 1 outpointed Nava 62-35.
“I didn’t expect this,” Cerundolo said during his on-court interview, describing his brisk quarterfinal triumph. “I have seen Emilio play really good tennis the past couple of days, so I started super concentrated on my game because I knew it was going to be a really tough match. But I thought I played really well. I rarely missed any shots today. I am really happy with my performance.
“Not many players can achieve 150 wins, so I am super happy with that milestone,” Cerundolo added. “I will try to achieve more, set more records and try to keep winning.”
¡150 victorias en el circuito ATP!
Tras vencer a Emilio Nava en los cuartos de final del Bci Seguros ChileOpen, Francisco Cerúndolo alcanzó 150 victorias en su carrera. pic.twitter.com/erFUpDc4hi
— Bci Seguros ChileOpen (@chile_open) February 27, 2026
After reaching the 150-victory plateau, Cerundolo will go for No. 151 on Saturday, when he faces No. 81 Yannick Hanfmann of Germany. Earlier Friday, the 34-year-old German from Karlsruhe defeated 107th-ranked lucky loser Vilius Gaubas of Lithuania, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, in two hours and 13 minutes, to reach his first Santiago semifinal.
Hanfmann hit 46 winners and converted five of 15 break-point chances against Gaubas. He outpointed his opponent 95-75.
Comeback complete under the Chilean sun ☀️@YannickHanfmann digs deep to outlast Gaubas 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in Santiago!@chile_open | #ChileOpen pic.twitter.com/SFkdWqx5QN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 27, 2026
Darderi, Baez set semifinal showdown
No. 2 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy and No. 3 seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina won their respective quarterfinal matches Friday evening to set a Saturday evening semifinal showdown – and a rematch of their Buenos Aires semifinal of two weeks ago, won by Darderi.
The World No. 21 Darderi, who is on a 14-2 run on clay since last July (19-2 including Challenger level), made it through to his eighth ATP Tour semifinal – all on clay – after defeating 137th-ranked Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in two hours and one minute. It marks the third semifinal in South America for Darderi, after Cordoba in 2024 and Buenos Aires earlier this month.
Darderi dropped just five points on his first-serve, winning 86 percent (30 of 35) of his opportunities. He hit 22 winners, broke Pellegrino four times in 13 tries and outpointed him 89-74.
2nd seed into 2nd semi-final of 2026 ✌️
Darderi prevails in the Italian duel, defeating Pellegrini 6-3 3-6 6-2!#ChileOpen @Lucianodarderi_ pic.twitter.com/fXYWdKypsm
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2026
Meanwhile, Baez earned his 15th career win in Santiago – most in the event’s history – and extended his perfect record in Chile Open quarterfinals (5-0) with his 7-6 (2), 6-1 victory over No. 8 seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in one hour and 21 minutes. It was Baez’s second-straight win over a Chilean after eliminating Cristian Garin in Thursday’s second round.
The 52nd-ranked Baez saved all three break points he faced and converted two of four opportunities against No. 42 Tabilo – whom he beat for the 2024 Chile Open title – to reach his 17th ATP Tour semifinal. He secured match point with a beautiful drop-shot winner – his 23rd winner of the quarterfinal. Baez improved to 41-6 on Chilean soil across all levels, including three Challenger titles and the 2024 Chile Open crown. He’s the only former champion remaining in the draw and would be the tournament’s first two-winner if he claims the title on Sunday.
Unfazed in enemy territory
Baez ends Chilean hopes with a 7-6 6-1 win over Tabilo!#ChileOpen @sebaabaez7 pic.twitter.com/1WaY1UVJB8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 28, 2026
Around the Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica
In doubles, No. 2 seeds Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos of Brazil advanced to Saturday’s final with their 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over unseeded Diego Hidalgo of Ecuador and Patrick Trhac of the United States. They will face unseeded Ariel Behar of Uruguay and Matthew Romios of Australia, who advanced over Finn Reynolds and James Watt of New Zealand, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Saturday’s Chile Open order of play
By the numbers
Yannick Hanfmann is the first German to reach an ATP Tour semifinal on South American clay since Tommy Haas in 2014 at Sao Paulo, Brazil. He’s through to his 10th ATP Tour semifinal and has played in three career Santiago quarterfinal matches, losing to the eventual 2022 and 2023 champions in Pedro Martinez of Spain and Nicolas Jarry of Chile.
“Quotable …”
“It was a tough match today. Quarterfinals and a big chance to make it to the semifinals. I’ve never made it past the quarters so it’s a really nice feeling to be finally a semifinalist in Santiago. This is one of my favorite tournaments, so I’m really happy to figure it out. It wasn’t easy today, but I’m happy to play another one tomorrow.”
– No. 81 Yannick Hanfmann of Germany, who reached his first Chile Open semifinal with a comeback victory on Friday.
