Davis Cup | Peru vs. Chile: How does the national team arrive and its options to beat Chile after 28 years to dream of the 2023 finals? | John Paul Varillas | Gonzalo Bueno | Tennis | RMMD EMCC | FULL-SPORTS

After beating Bolivia (3-1) in March for the World Group 1 playoffs, Américo ‘Tupi’ Venero’s team met their next rival within weeks. The draw determined that the “bicolor” will be measured again against another South American nation and at home: the Chilean squad, which had just crushed Slovenia (4-0) in the same instance. There were different alternatives, between European countries, an Asian and others from our continent, but fate wanted there to be a new edition of the rivalry.

It will be the first time that we face Nicolás Massú’s ‘Roja’ since 2015. And although we will be local, with our people, the record favors the southerners with a 6-2. Our last victory dates back to 1994, when the national team had Jaime Yzaga and José Luis Noriega in its ranks. From then on, the Chilean team has been able to strike both at home and in Lima.

In this new series, Juan Pablo Varillas and company, led by Américo ‘Tupi’ Venero, will try to emulate what was done in 1994 and break Chile’s streak (three wins in a row against us). With this, take another step towards the dream Finals of the Davis Cup 2023. Winning the series, the ‘sele’ would go to the Qualifiers, scheduled to be played between February 3 and 5 of next year.

Record

This is how the teams arrive

Each of the members of the Peruvian team arrives with activity and without injuries, which is a favorable point for the weekend’s series against Chile. Juan Pablo Varillas, the number one racket in the country, has been part of the top 100 of the ATP since the end of July, thus being the first Peruvian in 13 years to get into the top hundred players.

Although he comes from three straight defeats, the last in the ‘qualy’ of the US Open, ‘Juanpi’ grows when it comes to Davis. In March, against Bolivia, he led the team and got the results going, playing both singles matches and one doubles match. The second racket, Nicolás Álvarez, for his part, is going through a good moment, since recently he was in his best ranking (position 288 in August).

Precisely, in that month, he reached the semifinals of the Banja Luka Challenger in Bosnia-Herzegovina. ‘Nico’ will make his return to the team after missing the series against Bolivia due to health problems. On the other hand, Arklon Huertas del Pino, who played a singles against the ‘altiplánicos’, comes from playing the Santo Domingo Challenger in August, he left with a victory and a defeat.

The young Peruvian sensation, gonzalo good, was also called for a second time to a Davis Cup appointment. The 18-year-old from Trujillo, who began his journey in the ATP a year ago, is on the rise in the ranking. He recently reached the semifinals of the Lima Challenger, and in doubles juniors he gives the time with fellow Peruvian Ignacio Buse: runner-up at Roland Garros and US Open semifinalist.

While Sergio Galdos, guarantee in doubles, comes from playing the Challengers of Santo Domingo, Lima and Oeiras 3 of Portugal. The man from Arequipa also played against Bolivia alongside Juan Pablo Varillas, to give him the second point for Peru this time after defeating Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos.

Precisely, in the preview of the series against Chile, ‘Tupi’ Venero spoke about the expectations of the match, the national team and the rival. “The Peruvian team in general has been growing, improving its ranking, all the players have reached this Davis Cup much better and we are very happy about that”, he said on Ovation radio. While on the favorite country, the Peruvian captain made it clear that “Chile is the favorite.”

On the Chilean side, Nicolás Massú’s squad will be without two of his figures: Tomás Barrios, who is recovering from an operation on his left knee, and Cristian Garín, injured in his left wrist. Despite the casualties, the southerners have top tennis players like Alejandro Tabilo and Nicolás Jarry, who will lead the team.

Tabilo, ranked 69, played the main rounds of three Grand Slams this year: Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. In addition to being part of the resounding victory against Slovakia. While Jarry, although he is far from his best position (38th), continues with a good level of tennis: at the US Open, he advanced to the first round, playing from ‘qualy’.

His other teammates are Gonzalo Lama, Matías Soto and Diego Fernández Flores, Garín’s replacement, who did get to be called up, but left due to his injury. At a press conference, Nicolás Massú spoke about Peru and the level of his team. The Chilean delegation arrived in Lima last Saturday and has already visited the field on more than one occasion.

“Peru is a tough team that has good players. Rods recently entered the top 100, a very important achievement for any tennis player. It’s going to be a difficult Davis Cup, surely with a lot of people supporting them. The good thing is that we have players with a lot of experience, and that they are having a good time. It will be a very important challenge for us, we are very confident, training very wellMassu declared.

In relation to the casualties of Garín and Barrios, the captain of Chile stated the following: “It’s a shame, but these are things that happen to athletes. I hope they recover soon, to be able to perform on the circuit, because they need it, for their ranking and confidence. The players who are here are prepared, with desire, with spirit, and I trust them a lot. That is the good thing about having several players, because they can solve the absences. The more players we have, the better it will be. I hope it goes well for us, and I’m sure it will. I have players who have played very important Davis Cups, and with each series that passes, they gain more experience, and that is a plus for us”.

authorized word

In the series preview, depose spoke with Pablo Arraya, former captain of the Peruvian team, who spoke about the challenges that Peru will face against Nicolás Massú’s boys. Precisely, the former national tennis player led the “bicolor” in the last confrontation in Santiago in 2015. That time, beyond the defeat, it was the debut of a youthful Juan Pablo Varillas, today the leader of the national team.

“For Peru to win the series we have to have an inspired Juan Pablo Varillas, he is already used to playing very important matches in that stadium (Lawn Tennis). Varillas has already beaten several of the best in the ATP. Such as he had it won two steel sets at Roland Garros has Aliassime and our number two player comes with his best ATP ranking, Álvarez “Arraya commented.

At another time, Pablo also spoke about the Chilean present. “Tabilo arrives with a lot of confidence for having won Grand Slam matches, he is a player who is confirming himself among the 100 best in the world although I think that slow clay is not his favorite court. As for Jarry, it depends a lot on his motivation, he is a player who has one of the best serves in the world and if he is plugged in he will be very dangerous to win ”he added.

The former Peruvian captain is aware of Chile’s dominance in Peru’s record, but hopes that Venero’s side can deliver a blow at home. “If I allow myself to be carried away by my heart, I would like to say that Peru [es favorito]but from experience and ranking I think that Chile comes out as the favorite”ended.

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