Francisco Cerúndolo hit a US Open winner reminiscent of Roger Federer’s 2002 shot

Francisco Cerúndolo went through nearly every emotion during his US Open second-round match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Delight, fury, resignation, relief, irritation and joy all appeared in a contest that reflected the Argentine’s intense style.

The match also produced one of the tournament’s most memorable points. With Struff serving at 5-5, 40-30 in the second set, Cerúndolo tried to clear him with a lob. The ball fell short, and Struff attempted to finish with a backhand smash. That shot also landed short, giving Cerúndolo one more chance.

The Argentine refused to give up. He struck a winner while jumping from the back of the court, earning an ovation from the crowd. The shot reminded long-time tennis fans of Roger Federer’s famous point against Andy Roddick in Basel in 2002, when Federer answered an almost-winning shot with a leaping smash. Cerúndolo’s effort was probably less spectacular, the article notes, but it was strikingly similar.

Elsewhere, Nadia Podoroska’s US Open ended in the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to eighth seed Iga Swiatek in one hour and 11 minutes. Podoroska, a 2020 French Open semifinalist, entered the tournament with protected ranking after physical problems had pushed her to 449th in the rankings.

Swiatek won 78% of points behind her first serve and 73% behind her second, breaking Podoroska three times. Podoroska had reached the second round by beating Switzerland’s Simona Waltert in three sets, her first Grand Slam match win since the 2024 Australian Open. Her singles participation earned her $190,000.