Teen Cerundolo Stuns Cordoba Field For First ATP Title

A week ago, Juan Manuel Cerundolo had never even played a main draw ATP match before. Now, the 19-year-old is an ATP champion after running through the Cordoba, Argentina field to win his first title, beating today Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 in the final.

The Argentinian lefty was ranked No. 335 and had to qualify just get into his first main draw. He then knocked off four straight Top 100 player en route to the biggest win of his young career.

“It’s kind of incredible. I can’t believe it. I’m so happy to this tournament and this goal that I was hoping would happen sooner or later. But I still can’t believe it,” Cerundolo said. “There’s so many things in my head right now that I can’t express all of them. The only thing I can say is that I’m very happy and I’m going to enjoy this night.”

Cerdundolo becomes the first player to win title in his debut since Santiago Ventura won at 2004 Casablanca. And he becomes 5th-lowest-ranked player to win a title in ATP Tour history (since 1990) and the youngest Argentine champion since Guillermo Coria won 2001 Vina del Mar title at age 19.

And he had to do it in three sets.

“The key was to be mentally stable, because the match was very physical,” Cerundolo added. “He’s very solid with a good backhand and forehand. I was stable in my head, but in the second set he was [better] than me. In the third set I was able to get on top of him, but the key was to stay mentally stable.”

His ranking has already climbed to No. 181 in the new rankings.