Stefanos Tsitsipas was brutally honest when asked the reason why he’s never played the ATP’s South American swing.
Tsitsipas said his South American snub is purely financial, as the likes of the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships offer more in guaranteed fees.
This year’s South American swing has been far from star-studded, with none of the top ten opting to play in Rio or Buenos Aires.
The top ranked player in both of those events, Francisco Cerundolo, has taken issue with Tsitsipas’ comments.
Francisco Cerundolo fires back at Stefanos Tsitsipas
Cerundolo has been impressive on the South American swing, and he is defensive of the two clay court tournaments.
Asked what he thinks of Tsitsipas’ comments, the Argentine responded: “If you don’t want to come here, don’t come.
“All those who want to play on clay, discover South American cities, and play a different style of tennis will be more inclined to join us.”
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
Cerundolo believes the beauty of the ATP Tour is there are so many options for players across the world.
“Those who don’t will head to the Middle East or straight to Acapulco. The beauty of the schedule is that players can choose the tournaments they want to play.
“The positive is that the calendar is flexible, aside from the Masters 1000s and Grand Slams. After that, you can pick the ATP 250s and 500s you want to play—that is, go to places where you feel most comfortable.”
The South American swing has featured the likes of Cerundolo, Joao Fonseca, and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
How Francisco Cerundolo is performing on the South American swing
Cerundolo began his South American swing with a euphoric ATP title win on home soil at the Argentina Open.
The Argentine could not continue that momentum at the Rio Open, as he was forced to retire in his round of 16 match with Thiago Agustín Tirante.
What is your bold prediction for the 2026 tennis season?
The star bounced back in Chile, however, as he is still going strong at the Santiago tournament.
Cerundolo defeated Elmer Møller to earn a place in the quarter-finals, where he will play American Emilio Nava.
The Argentine has continued his stretch in the ATP Tour top 20 thanks to his performances on the South American swing.
