The Argentine lost his previous two matches at the ATP 250 clay-court event but ensured history would not repeat itself for a third time, winning a tight battle against Hanfmann after two hours and 29 minutes. with 6-2, 4-6, 7-6
“I am really happy to get the win,” Cerundolo said. “I was feeling really good at the start of the second set, I felt in control of the match and was playing really well. The past two years I came here I didn’t play good and today I was feeling good.
After that he got a break and I think I started feeling a little nervous and was not playing the way I was before. He played much better and after that it was a super tough match.”
Cerundolo, who squandered a break advantage in the third set, now leads Hanfmann 4-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Having reached the final in Buenos Aires earlier this month, the three-time tour-level titlist will seek another deep run this week in Chile.