Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Camilo Ugo Carabelli advanced to the second round of the 2026 Madrid Open with commanding straight-set victories on Thursday, bolstering Argentina’s presence at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Spain.
Cerundolo, ranked 67th in the world, defeated German Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-4 in a match that saw him overcome an early break deficit. After falling behind 2-0 in the opening set, Cerundolo broke back in the fifth game and later secured another break to take the set. He carried that momentum into the second set, breaking Altmaier’s serve at 3-3 to seal the win.
Carabelli, the world No. 57, delivered a similarly efficient performance against French veteran Gael Monfils, winning 6-3, 6-4. The Argentine, nicknamed “El Brujo,” controlled the match from the outset against the former top-10 player, who is competing in what has been described as his final season on the professional circuit. Carabelli’s tactical precision and ability to convert break points at key moments were central to his success.
The victories came on a day when Argentine tennis celebrated multiple successes. Mariano Navone also advanced earlier in the day, defeating Portuguese player Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round. Navone’s win marked his first tour-level title following a recent coaching change, and he is set to face world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the next round.
Not all Argentine players found success, however. Sebastian Baez fell in straight sets to Lithuanian Vilius Gaubas 7-5, 6-1, although Marco Trungelliti lost a closely contested match to Spain’s Daniel Merida. Baez’s loss came earlier in the week, adding to the mixed results for the South American contingent.
Looking ahead, Cerundolo is scheduled to face Italian Luciano Darderi in the second round, while Carabelli will take on fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli, the world No. 13 and recent Munich Open finalist. Navone’s impending match against Zverev represents one of the most significant challenges for any Argentine player in the tournament.
The strong showing by Navone, Cerundolo, and Carabelli contributed to a positive overall narrative for Argentine tennis at the Madrid Open, highlighting the depth of talent emerging from the country’s player development programs. Their successes contrasted with the early exits of Baez and Trungelliti, underscoring the competitive nature of the ATP Tour’s clay-court swing.
As the tournament progresses, the remaining Argentine players will aim to build on their opening-round momentum. For Cerundolo and Carabelli, advancing past the first round at a Masters 1000 event on European clay represents a meaningful step in their respective campaigns to climb the ATP rankings and establish greater consistency at the sport’s highest level.
Their next matches will serve as critical tests against top-tier opposition, with Carabelli facing a particularly stern examination against Cobolli, who has demonstrated strong form on the surface this season. Cerundolo’s matchup with Darderi, while perhaps less daunting on paper, still requires navigation of a tricky left-handed opponent known for his varied shot-making.
With the Madrid Open continuing through the week, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see whether the Argentine contingent can sustain its early success and potentially produce a deep run from one or more of its players.
Stay tuned to Archysport for ongoing coverage of the Madrid Open and updates on the Argentine players’ journeys through the tournament.
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