Hanfmann Reaches Third Career ATP Tour Final At Chile Open

Yannick Hanfmann
Yannick Hanfmann (photo: BCI Seguros Chile Open)

SANTIAGO/WASHINGTON, March 1, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

It’s taken Yannick Hanfmann nearly six years of ups and downs since the last time he reached a final on the ATP Tour. All of his biggest successes have come on clay – and Saturday evening, the 34-year-old German from Karlsruhe reached his third career tour-level final, all of them on the red-dirt surface, at the BCI Seguros Chile Open in the capital city of Santiago.

The 81st-ranked Hanfmann played steady and composed tennis from first ball to last on Court Jaime Fillol. By the end of the one-hour, 24-minute semifinal, he had upset World No. 19 and top seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the title match of this ATP 250 outdoor clay-court event. He improved to 9-4 lifetime in Santiago, the final leg of the ATP Tour Golden Swing.

“It feels incredible. I mean, I think from the first point to the last, I played such a great match,” Hanfmann said during his on-court interview. “I had to because he’s such a great player. I knew I had to bring my A game today and I did. I’m really happy.”

Cerundolo came into Saturday’s semifinal seeking to reach his eighth ATP Tour final – and second one of this season – after winning the Buenos Aires title two weeks ago. He came into the match leading the ATP Tour in clay wins since the start of the 2024 season (49) and looked to record five tour-level wins versus an opponent for the third time in his career after achieving the feat against Casper Ruud (5-4) and Tommy Paul (5-2).

Meanwhile, Hanfmann sought to reach his third ATP Tour final following Gstaad in 2017 and Kitzbuhel in 2020, both European summertime events. The 6-foot-4-inch Hanfmann brought an 8-23 win-loss record against Top-20 foes and was seeking his first Top-20 victory since defeating then-No. 20 Adrian Mannarino at the Miami Open two years ago. He was 1-7 versus the Cerundolo brothers on tour-level, including a second-round loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo at Rio de Janeiro last week.

As it happened, Hanfmann jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set after breaking Cerundolo’s serve in the fourth game. He won seven of his first nine first-serve points and hit five winners in the early going while Cerundolo committed nine unforced errors. Soon, Hanfmann increased his break lead to 5-2 as he continued to play at a high level against Cerundolo. He put away the 36-minute first set 6-3, after holding at love. Hanfmann dropped just two points on his first serve, winning 13 of 15 (87 percent) opportunities. He hit nine winners (six forehand, three backhand), saved the only break point he faced and outpointed Cerundolo 31-21. 

Then, Hanfmann broke Cerundolo to go ahead a set and a break, after the Argentine No. 1 suffered his second double fault to give the German a 3-2 advantage. He consolidated the break after Cerundolo swatted a backhand well beyond the baseline – his 23rd unforced error of the semifinal – to push ahead 4-2.

Next, serving with new balls, Hanfmann held solidly to go ahead 5-3, needing to win just one more game. He saved a break point in the ninth game while trying to serve out the match. Finally, on his second match point opportunity, the upset was completed as Hanfmann beat Cerundolo for just the second time in six career meetings – and the first time since beating the Argentine in 2023 at Hamburg on clay. He put away the victory with a forehand winner – his 12th of the match and 18th overall.

“You know it’s normal to have some nerves to get into a final,” Hanfmann said, after improving his 2026 win-loss record to 7-2. “Ultimately, I believed – even on the break point – in my shots and my ability to stay in the rally. I’m lucky I clinched it out there.”

Hanfmann, who won 79 percent (27 of 34) of his first-serve points, outpointed Cerundolo 63-49. He saved both break points he faced, broke Cerundolo’s serve twice in three opportunities, and took advantage of 27 unforced errors by his opponent.

Focused Darderi advances to first Chile Open final

In an entertaining and athletic second semifinal, No. 2 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy fought past No. 3 seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina, 6-4, 6-3, in one hour and 29 minutes. It was the ninth time the two competitors had met in a tour-level match. With Saturday’s victory, the World No. 21 Darderi has taken a 5-4 career head-to-head lead. It was his 47th victory on clay since the start of the 2024 season – second-most on the ATP Tour.

The 52nd-ranked Baez came into the semifinal owning the most wins (15) in tournament history and aimed to reach his 13th ATP Tour final – and fourth in Santiago. He’s been lights out on Chilean soil across all levels, which includes winning a trio of Challenger titles plus the 2024 Chile Open crown. Baez was looking to garner his first Top-30 win on clay since defeating then-No. 12 Holger Rune at Rome last year. 

However, Darderi arrived on a 14-2 run on clay since last July and was seeking his sixth ATP Tour final on clay – and third one in South America after Cordoba in 2024 and Buenos Aires two weeks ago.

Wasting little time or effort, Darderi jumped out to a 4-1 lead first-set lead after breaking Baez twice in the early going. Later, he held his serve for a 5-2 advantage but not before saving a couple of break points. Then, the Argentine No. 3 stormed back to break Darderi for the second time to get back on serve at 4-5. It was short-lived, though, as Darderi broke to win the 41-minute set 6-4 after crushing a forehand winner that capped a 16-shot rally.

Then, the 24-year-old Italian raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set, after breaking Baez for the fourth time in five tries. Soon, Darderi increased his advantage to 4-1 as he continued to pressure his opponent into committing many costly unforced errors, and held for 5-2, punctuated by a beautiful lob winner that the 5-foot-7-inch Baez was unable to leap high enough to get his racquet on.

Although Baez was able to save a couple of match points in the eighth game to remain alive, ultimately, Darderi was just too strong. He finished out the semifinal triumph on his serve in the next game, winning the set 6-3 for a straight-set victory that came on his fourth match-point opportunity. Darderi hit an emphatic forehand winner – his 13th of the evening – and punched his ticket to a sixth career final – and first one in Santiago.

Darderi won 71 percent (22 of 31) of his first-serve points, converted four of seven break points, overcame 31 unforced errors and outpointed Baez 62-57. The victory improved his 2026 season win-loss record to 10-4 and he’s through to his second ATP Tour final on the South American Golden Swing.

“I’m pretty tired,” Darderi admitted during his on-court interview. “Playing here against Sebastian … he’s a tough opponent. We’ve already played three times this year. He’s an amazing player on clay courts. It’s always a tough match against him.”

Brazilians Luz and Matos win second Golden Swing doubles crown

In a week filled with upsets in the doubles draw, No. 2 seeds Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos of Brazil survived all challenges and won their second Golden Swing title this month. On Saturday, Luz and Matos defeated unseeded Ariel Behar of Uruguay and Matthew Romios of Australia, 6-4, 6-3, in one hour and 20 minutes. 

Luz, 28, and Matos, 30, who won their first ATP Tour title at Bastad in 2024 and two weeks ago won the Buenos Aires crown, saved all three break points they faced and outpointed Behar and Romios 64-49.

The Brazilian duo improved to 19-5 on tour level as a pair (15-4 in 2026). They did not drop a set en route to winning the Santiago title. They are 3-0 in ATP Tour finals. It was the sixth career South American title for Matos.

Saturday’s Chile Open results

Sunday’s Chile Open order of play

By the numbers

The three players with the most ATP Tour wins on clay since the start of the 2024 season are all semifinalists this week in Santiago:

Francisco Cerundolo (49), Luciano Darderi (47) and Sebastian Baez (44).

“Quotable …”

“I think I stayed focused in the important moments. I played almost a perfect match. I’m very happy to be in the final. Now, I’ll rest and tomorrow we’ll play the final. I hope the crowd will be with me.”

– No. 2 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, who advanced to his first Chile Open final with his semifinal win over No. 3 seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina.

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