Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry battled through intense heat and a bout of on-court illness to reach the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, defeating countryman Francisco Cerundolo in a grueling five-set match.
The world No. 33 Etcheverry outlasted 29th-seeded Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in a contest that lasted over four hours. The match took a dramatic turn when Etcheverry, leading 4-1 in the final set, suddenly vomited on the court.
Temperatures soared above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) at Flushing Meadows, triggering the tournament’s heat rule. Several players struggled with the conditions, but Etcheverry’s ordeal was particularly visible.
Despite the setback, Etcheverry quickly regrouped. He withstood a three-deuce game from Cerundolo before eventually closing out the match after four hours and four minutes.
“I still have that chip on my shoulder,” Etcheverry had said before the match, recalling a memorable under-10 loss to Cerundolo. “I remember it was a semi-final in Carilo. We were about nine, that’s when we met for the first time.”
The victory marks Etcheverry’s first appearance in the US Open third round. He will face fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev next.
The match highlighted the intense rivalry and long history between the two Argentine players, who have competed against each other from junior levels through professional ranks. Despite past tensions, including a reported altercation at a Futures event, the players embraced at the net after the match.
Etcheverry’s resilience in overcoming both his opponent and the challenging conditions demonstrated the physical and mental demands of Grand Slam tennis.
