Francisco Cerundolo Defends Davis Cup Absence: 'It's Very Hard to Play Every Match'

Argentina's Davis Cup Loss to South Korea Sparks Criticism: Cerundolo Breaks Silence on Skipping Tie, Fires Back at Detractors

© AFP

Clément Gehl

le 09/02/2026 à 08h30

2 min to read

Cerundolo Francisco

Argentina arrived in South Korea for the Davis Cup with a weakened team. No Francisco Cerundolo or Sebastian Baez. Eliminated by the South Koreans, the Argentines will have to play a relegation playoff in September to avoid dropping down.

In comments relayed by Tennis Actu, Cerundolo justified his absence and responded to the criticism he has faced: "Everyone can criticize, give their opinion, or support me, it doesn't matter.

"I Didn't Want to Spend Ten Days Training in Korea Either"

For my part, I'm at peace, because I've played all the Davis Cup matches since I was called up, except one, because I was injured.

This time, it didn't work out. I played very well in Australia, I had very little time to return to Buenos Aires, and I didn't want to spend ten days training in Korea either. I wanted to prepare for this tour, and in the end, it didn't happen.

I would have loved for it to be in another part of the world so I could play it. Whoever wants to criticize me, let them criticize. That's how it is. When you're Argentina's No. 1, whatever you do, people will talk about it: they'll criticize you or support you.

"If They Don't Want Me Anymore, It's Not a Problem"

If they want me for the next series, I'll be there. I even heard: 'Because Fran didn't come, we won't call him anymore.' If they don't want me anymore, it's not a problem.

It's very difficult to play every match throughout a career. I love playing Davis Cup for Argentina, we experience it in a completely different way from everything else, but sometimes, it just doesn't align."