Third time was the charm for Argentine tennis star Francisco Cerúndolo (19th ATP singles ranked), who beat Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-2 to win the 2026 Argentina Open after losing twice in the finals before (2021 and 2025). The match remained a blow-for-blow affair until the end, where once again Cerúndolo needed more than one chance to wrap it up. After a row of three successive breaks, Cerúndolo emerged with a 2-1 lead and, most importantly, control of the match. A win a long time in the making“It’s a special win, of course,” Cerúndolo said at the press conference. Cerúndolo remains Argentina’s top-ranked star at 19, with Darderi — who plays under the Italian flag — climbing just a single spot, to 21.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald February 15, 2026 23:01 UTC