Top 5 Photos, 3/6: Another Cerundolo Story in the works?

Published March 06, 2021

Another Cinderella Story? How about Another Cerundolo Story!

While an amazing storyline continues to develop in Argentina, one of the sport's most liked champions produced a clinical performance in Qatar to complete a spectacular week.

Here are Saturday's Top 5 photos from Buenos Aires, Doha and Rotterdam.

A week after brother Juan Manuel triumphed on his ATP main draw debut to win the Cordoba crown, Francisco Cerundolo is a win away from joining him in the winner's circle. Francisco beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the man Juan Manuel bested in last week's final, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2, to reach the championship match at Buenos Aires. Should Francisco prevail Sunday, he and Juan Manuel will become the first pair of brothers in the Open Era to win ATP titles in consecutive weeks.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - MARCH 06: Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina celebrates after winning a semifinal match against Albert Ramos-Viñolas of Spain with a part of first semifinal during day 6 of ATP Buenos Aires Argentina Open 2021 at Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club on March 6, 2021 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

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Talk about dominant. Petra Kvitova needed just 63 minutes to blow past Garbine Muguruza, 6-2, 6-1, for her 28th tour-level trophy in Doha. Kvitova, celebrating her first title since April 2019, has now taken five successive encounters with Muguruza. The left-hander also beat the Spaniard in the 2018 Doha title match, and has lost just 10 finals from 38 opportunities.

DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 06: Petra Kvitova of The Czech Republic celebrates with the trophy after victory against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during Day Six of the Qatar Total Open 2021 at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 06, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

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Another player showing dominance of a different kind? Andrey Rublev. The world No. 8 picked up his 19th straight win at the ATP 500 level after advancing past sixth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-3, 7-6 (2), in the Rotterdam semifinals. Last season, Rublev won all three of the 500 events on offer once the ATP tour resumed when he tasted victory in Hamburg (over Tsitsipas), St. Petersburg and Vienna.

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 06: Andrey Rublev of Russia returns a overhead forehand smash in his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during Day 6 of the 48th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at Ahoy on March 06, 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

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On the Rotterdom doubles court, Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic kept up their sizzling season start by edging French pair Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (11) [10-4], to reach the final. Playing their first season together, Pavic and Mektic are now 15-1. The Croatians captured titles at Antalya and Melbourne 2, before advancing to the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 6 march 2021, ABNAMRO World Tennis Tournament, Ahoy, Semi final doubles: Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Mate Pavic (CRO). Photo: www.tennisimages.com/henkkoster(Sipa via AP Images) — © Sipa USA via AP

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A wide view of Tsitsipas serving at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. All was not lost for the Greek in Rotterdam, as his trip to the final four is enough to overtake Roger Federer for No. 5 in Monday's ATP Rankings. It matches his career-high mark, having initially cracked the Top 5 on August 5, 2019, following a semifinal showing in Washington, D.C.

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 06: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves in his match against Andrey Rublev of Russia during Day 6 of the 48th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at Ahoy on March 06, 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

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