Rinderknech pulls back from the brink before Cerundolo retires in Paris
Arthur Rinderknech broke 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo as the Argentine served for the match, before Cerundolo, apparently troubled by his back, retired 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0. It is the Frenchman’s first win since the US Open, and Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci awaits in the second round.
Arthur Rinderknech, Rolex Paris Masters 2016 | © Baptiste Autissier / PsNewz
Arthur Rinderknech was one game from defeat before 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo retired 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0 in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday. The Frenchman, ranked No. 68, will face Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, who beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 on Monday, in the second round.
Cerundolo, apparently troubled by his back, took a medical time-out after losing the second set. The Argentine then lost eight points in a row before retiring.
It is Rinderknech’s first win since he reached the third round of the US Open, after four straight defeats. He reached the second round in Paris for the third year in a row.
Cerundolo is the third seed to leave the tournament, after fifth seed Flavio Cobolli and 13th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina withdrew. His is the second retirement in two days in Paris, after Denis Shapovalov stopped against Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-7 (6), 1-4 on Monday.
How Rinderknech broke Cerundolo serving for the match
Cerundolo controlled the opening set on Court Central. He broke in the second game and took it in 32 minutes.
In the second set, Cerundolo broke at 4-4, on his fourth break point of the game, to serve for the match. Rinderknech broke straight back on his second chance and dominated the tie-break 7-2.
After the medical time-out, Rinderknech broke in the opening game of the third set and held to love, and Cerundolo stopped after 1 hour 42 minutes. The Frenchman hit seven aces and won 78 percent of his first-serve points (39 of 50).
Rinderknech has now beaten Cerundolo in both of their tour-level meetings, after a 6-4, 6-2 win at the 2023 United Cup. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 24 in May, and was a finalist at the Shanghai Masters last year, where he lost to his cousin, Monegasque Valentin Vacherot, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Cerundolo, who won titles in Buenos Aires and at Queen’s Club this season, had reached the third round in Paris in each of the last three editions.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 first-round results
Lorenzo Musetti d. Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10)
Luca Van Assche d. Mariano Navone 6-3, 7-5
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (LL) vs Learner Tien (15) (Tuesday)
Novak Djokovic (10) vs Valentin Vacherot (Tuesday)
Rinky Hijikata (Q) d. Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2
Andrey Rublev vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Tuesday)
Cameron Norrie d. Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Mattia Bellucci (Q) d. Lorenzo Sonego (Q) 6-4, 6-3
Arthur Rinderknech d. Francisco Cerundolo (16) 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0 ret.
Tommy Paul (12) vs Holger Rune (PR) (Tuesday)
Daniel Merida d. Sebastian Baez (LL) 6-4, 6-2
Quentin Halys d. Arthur Fery 7-6 (6), 7-5
Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) vs Arthur Gea (WC) (Tuesday)
Casper Ruud d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Q) 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Jodar (9) d. Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3
Nuno Borges (LL) vs Moise Kouame (WC) (Tuesday)
Karen Khachanov d. Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-7 (6), 1-4 ret.
Ignacio Buse d. Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4
Tomas Machac (Q) d. Kyrian Jacquet (WC) 7-6 (7), 6-1
Alex Molcan (Q) d. Titouan Droguet (WC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Benjamin Bonzi (Q) vs Taylor Fritz (11) (Tuesday)
Brandon Nakashima (14) vs Matteo Berrettini (Tuesday)
Ugo Humbert d. Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-3
Alex Michelsen vs Jiri Lehecka (Tuesday)
