Alexandre Muller defeats Cerundolo, reaches first ATP 500 semi-final

Frenchman Alexandre Muller reached the semi-finals of the Rio Open by beating Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, the No 4 seed, 7-5, 6-1 at the Jockey Club Brasileiro in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

The man who knocked off home favourite Joao Fonseca in the first round has reached his third ATP semi-final and his first at the 500 level.

Muller won the Hong Kong title earlier this year, and is now 8-2 for the 2025 season.

Muller, ranked No 60, will play Argentinian Francisco Comesana next.

Earlier in the tournament, the Frenchman won against Brazilian Joao Fonseca (6-1, 7-6 (4)) and Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry, the No 8 seed (7-5, 7-6 (5)).

Cerundolo, ranked No 26, won against Frenchman Hugo Gaston (7-6 (9), 6-0) and Italian Luciano Darderi (6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Rio tournament.

Rio de Janeiro ATP 500, other last eight results (Jockey Club Brasileiro, clay, USD 2.396.115, most recent results first):

• Francisco Comesana beat Alexander Zverev (1): 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Camilo Ugo Carabelli (LL) beat Jaime Faria (LL): 7-6 (5), 6-4
• Sebastian Baez (5) beat Chun-Hsin Tseng (Q): 6-4, 6-1

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