Cerundolo Sparks Upset, Continues Miami Journey Against Medvedev
The Argentine sensation advances to the fourth round for the fourth time in just five Miami appearances.
March 23, 2026
ATP Tour
Francisco Cerundolo triumphs over Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling three-set showdown.
By Jerome Coombe
Francisco Cerundolo’s passion for the Miami Open presented by Itau remains as vibrant as ever.
In an electrifying match on Monday, the 27-year-old Argentine claimed a remarkable 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 victory against the in-form World No. 10 Daniil Medvedev, marking his fourth trip to the fourth round at this prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event in just five years.
“I felt great in my first match here, and I’m feeling even better now,” expressed Cerundolo, currently ranked No. 19 in the PIF ATP Rankings, after earning his first victory over a Top-10 player this season. “I’m regaining my confidence. I was just looking for the right level, and now that I’m in the Round of 16, I hope to keep it going.”
Fran is feeling the love in Miami 💙@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen | @FranCerundolo pic.twitter.com/YpIlRxtmMC
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 23, 2026
Medvedev arrived in Miami brimming with confidence after halting World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz’s astonishing 16-match undefeated start to the 2026 season during the Indian Wells semi-finals. However, Cerundolo’s relentless forehand prowess consistently caught the former World No. 1 off guard.
Having enjoyed considerable success in South Florida—highlighted by a semi-final appearance in his debut year of 2022, followed by quarter-final runs in 2023 and 2025—Cerundolo now aims for another appearance in the last eight. Next up is the challenge of Ugo Humbert, whom he previously defeated at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Medvedev, on the hunt for his Tour-leading 20th win of the season after clinching titles in Brisbane and Dubai, will leave Miami with a record of 19-5 according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Cerundolo started strong, breezing through the first set and seemingly poised for a comfortable victory before Medvedev fought back from 1-3 down in the second. The match featured nail-biting rallies under the Florida sun, with a stunning winner from Medvedev punctuating a 22-shot exchange that thrilled the spectators.
Despite facing four break points during a crucial game at 3-4, Medvedev showed resilience, but it was Cerundolo who delivered the final blow, demonstrating his power to secure victory after a hard-fought two hours and 17 minutes.
“What a match, it was incredibly tough,” Cerundolo reflected. “This was my first encounter with Daniil, and he’s one of the few players I hadn’t faced yet. I was unsure of what to expect, especially given his impressive year. To be up 6-0 in the first set and a break up in the second was unexpected.”
“He raised his level dramatically, but I stayed focused and fought through. The third set was a high-quality battle from both of us, but in the end, it worked out in my favor.”
