“I managed to turn it around”: Rinderknech survives as Cerundolo retires in Paris

Arthur Rinderknech broke 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo as the Argentine served for the match, before Cerundolo, apparently troubled by his back, retired 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0. It is the Frenchman’s first win since the US Open, and Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci awaits in the second round.

3 November 2026

Cédric Rouquette

Reporting from Paris - La Défense

Arthur Rinderknech, Rolex Paris Masters 2016 | © Baptiste Autissier / PsNewz

Rolex Paris Masters •Second round • Completed

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A. RinderknechvsF. Cerundolo

Arthur Rinderknech was one game from defeat before 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo retired 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0 in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday. The Frenchman, ranked No. 68, will face Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, who beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 on Monday, in the second round.

Cerundolo, apparently troubled by his back, took a medical time-out after losing the second set. The Argentine then lost eight points in a row before retiring.

It is Rinderknech’s first win since he reached the third round of the US Open, after four straight defeats. He reached the second round in Paris for the third year in a row.

“I struggled to get going. It wasn’t easy, I didn’t have the best feelings. But at the same time it’s normal: I haven’t had much rhythm for a while, so not many certainties either,” Rinderknech said. “I knew it would be a fight, and it was from start to finish. We hung on, he served for the match, but I managed to turn it around, so that’s cool.”

Cerundolo is the third seed to leave the tournament, after fifth seed Flavio Cobolli and 13th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina withdrew. His is the second retirement in two days in Paris, after Denis Shapovalov stopped against Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-7 (6), 1-4 on Monday.

How Rinderknech broke Cerundolo serving for the match

Cerundolo controlled the opening set on Court Central. He broke in the second game and took it in 32 minutes.

In the second set, Cerundolo broke at 4-4, on his fourth break point of the game, to serve for the match. Rinderknech broke straight back on his second chance and dominated the tie-break 7-2.

“I had a bit of luck at that moment. I managed to find better feelings,” Rinderknech said. “What I’ll take away is mostly the end of the second set and the start of the third, where I managed to be solid.”

After the medical time-out, Rinderknech broke in the opening game of the third set and held to love, and Cerundolo stopped after 1 hour 42 minutes. The Frenchman hit seven aces and won 78 percent of his first-serve points (39 of 50).

“No, I didn’t see anything. He called the trainer at the end of the second set. I thought maybe it was to break my rhythm a bit, since I was starting to build some momentum,” he said. “I played maybe my best return game in the first game of the third set, and maybe my best service game right after. So maybe he was a bit desperate about his chances of coming back, with his little back pain.”