Rio Open Fires Back at Francisco Cerundolo After Scheduling Dispute Ends Title Defense Early

Francisco Cerundolo accused Rio Open of not fulfilling his scheduling demands.

Rio Open Fires Back at Francisco Cerundolo After Scheduling Dispute Ends Title Defense Early

Francisco Cerundolo (via X/Madrid Open)

In Short
  • Francisco Cerundolo exited the Rio Open early after losing to Thiago Tirante in the second round.
  • Tournament officials stated Cerundolo did not make a scheduling request and emphasized adherence to ATP protocols.
  • The incident highlights ongoing debates about player welfare and scheduling demands in professional tennis.

Francisco Cerundolo‘s dream run on South American clay came crashing down Wednesday, but not before the Argentine star let tournament officials know exactly how he felt about it.

The World No. 19 walked off the court trailing Thiago Tirante 6-2, 3-1 in the second round of the Rio Open, marking an abrupt end to what many expected would be a deep run following his emotional Argentina Open triumph just days earlier. But it wasn’t the defeat itself that had Cerundolo heated—it was what happened behind the scenes.

Rio Open organizers weren’t having it. In a statement released shortly after Cerundolo’s comments made waves, tournament officials fired back with a clear message: rules are rules. Rio Open clarified on Instagram:

The Rio Open clarifies that there was no request from the aforementioned athlete to the tournament organization. We reinforce that all decisions are made in accordance with ATP protocols and guidelines, with complete transparency. Our commitment is to always balance the needs of athletes, the public and national and international TV broadcasting, ensuring that all procedures follow clear and impartial rules.

The tournament says that Cerundolo isn’t the only one dealing with a packed schedule, and it isn’t about to start making exceptions. Officials doubled down on their stance, emphasizing that back-to-back matches are part of the game at ATP 500 events.

Players know what they’re signing up for, and while recovery time is important, the show must go on. This episode adds to the overall debate of scheduling in tennis.

A familiar debate

This isn’t the first time ATP scheduling has sparked controversy, and it won’t be the last. Players have long voiced concerns about the demands placed on their bodies, especially during condensed tournament windows like the South American Golden Swing.

Francisco Cerundolo Madrid Open 2025
Francisco Cerundolo (image via X)

The Rio Open sits right in the middle of that gauntlet, sandwiched between Buenos Aires and events in Chile and Brazil. For players chasing ranking points and momentum, the grind is relentless. For those coming off deep runs—like Francisco Cerundolo—it’s borderline brutal.

Tennis analysts are split on the issue. Some argue that players need to manage their schedules better and recognize when rest is necessary. Others point to the physical toll of modern tennis, where matches can stretch past three hours and recovery windows shrink by the day.

The bigger picture

This controversy raises important questions about player welfare in professional tennis. Should tournaments be more flexible with scheduling requests, especially for players coming off grueling weeks? Or is this just part of the job description for athletes competing at the highest level?

There’s no easy answer, but one thing is clear: the tension between player health and tournament logistics isn’t going away anytime soon. As the ATP Tour continues to evolve, these debates will only grow louder.

For now, Francisco Cerundolo will regroup, refocus, and prepare for the next battle. And Rio Open officials will defend their process, confident they made the right call, even if it meant losing one of their top draws.

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