Alejandro Tabilo Becomes First Chilean Man to Win Open Era Grass-Court Title at Mallorca Championships

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Tabilo has earned his place in Chilean tennis history…

The 27-year-old Chilean professional tennis player became the first Chilean man to win a grass-court title in the Open era at the Mallorca Championships on Saturday.

Tabilo, seeded fourth, defeated the unseeded Sebastian Ofner of Austria 6-3, 6-4 in the final.

A single break decided each set as Tabilo saved all three break chances against him.

He will rise five places to a career-high 19 in the rankings on Monday, the first time in 19 years Chile will have two top-20 players. Nicolas Jarry is the other.

After his second title of the year and career, Tabilo will play local Daniel Evans at Wimbledon.

Ofner follows his first tour final by facing Aleksandar Vukic of Australia at Wimbledon.

Nicolas Jarry Outlasts Tommy Paul to Reach Rome Open Final

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Nicolas Jarry is one win away from becoming Chile’s first ATP Masters 1000 champion in 25 years.

On Friday, the No. 21 seed overcame 14th-seeded Tommy Paul, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3, for his third three-set victory in his run to the Rome Open final.

With grandfather Jaime Fillol cheering him on, Jarry regrouped after dropping the second set from a set and a break up. He held his nerve in the final game, saving two break points in between needing five match points to shut the door on Paul and dampen his 27th birthday.

“I was not very happy at the end of the second set,” Jarry admitted to press in the mixed zone afterwards. “I tried to use that energy to push myself and to focus it on my tennis, on what I need to do, and try to play as best I can. That gave me the break and more confidence to continue and to close the match.

“Tommy doesn’t make you feel comfortable on the court, so I made it through and that’s the best thing about it.”

Jarry advanced to his second final of the year, following Buenos Aires (defeated No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in semis)

The last Chilean player to win a 1000-level title was Marcelo Rios at 1999 Hamburg, the former world No. 1’s fifth triumph at that level.

Jarry will look to join him on the Internazionali BNL d’Italia honor roll, as Rios was crowned the 1998 winner when Albert Costa withdrew prior to their final with a wrist injury.

In the quarterfinals, Jarry picked up his third Top 10 victory of the season by ousting Monte Carlo title holder Stefanos Tsitsipas. The boisterous crowd at the Foro Italico was one of the factors in pushing him across the finish line then and against Paul.

“Yesterday and today were amazing. I was hoping it was going to be like yesterday. Yesterday was my first day in the stadium. It was quite a shock. But I enjoy this atmosphere, I like it,” said Jarry.

His nation nearly had two reasons to celebrate on the day, before Alexander Zverev crashed the party. After getting outplayed early, the 2017 champion stormed past Alejandro Tabilo, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

“He’s a tough, tough guy to beat. Amazing backhand, good serve. He’s playing very good tennis right now,” assessed Jarry about his upcoming opponent.

In turning the tide, Zverev has now won his past 18 matches against left-handers. The No. 3 seed is 21-11 lifetime in tour-level finals.

Nicolas Jarry Upsets Stefanos Tsitsipas at Italian Open to Reach First ATP Masters 1000 Semifinal

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Nicolas Jarry has reached his first career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

The 28-year-old Chilean professional tennis player rallied past sixth seed and 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

Jarry produced relentless power from the baseline, striking 23 forehand winners, including a 166 kilometres-per-hour bruiser, to spoil Tsitsipas’ quest for a third consecutive semi-final appearance in Rome.

“I think beating Stefanos on clay is a good achievement. Certainly happy with my fight today, for how I played and how I maintained myself,” Jarry said in his on-court interview. “I kept trying to find different ways to have chances on his serve. I knew I was playing good. I had to adjust some things in the backhand so he didn’t push me back, that’s why he played so good. I was able to do those things and I’m extremely happy for the win.”

A key turning point came at 3-3 in the second set, when Jarry tallied five consecutive points from 0/40 and let out a massive roar to bring alive the Foro Italico crowd.

The 21st seed was crisp from the back of the court and delivered some of his best tennis to win nine of the final 11 points in the second set, sending the match into a decider.

Jarry displayed mental fortitude throughout the two-hour, 38-minute thriller, during which he fought off 11 of 13 break points faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Tsitsipas will rue letting slip two break points at 5-5, 15/40 in the second set that would have given him the chance to serve for the match had he converted.

But Jarry held his nerve under pressure and earned a dramatic break of his own at 5-4 in the third set, converting his fourth match point to improve to 4-2 in his ATP Head2Head series with Tsitsipas.

“I always practise, always trying to find ways to be better, be stronger, be happier, enjoying it more,” Jarry said. “The last two matches, I’ve enjoyed it a lot so that’s my greatest achievement so far. Happy for that and that it’s brought me into the semis. [I will] try to continue this path. I’m playing pretty well, I just want to maintain it. That’s the toughest thing of all.”

Jarry and countryman Alejandro Tabilo are the first Chilean duo to reach the semifinals of an ATP Tour event since 2006 in Vina del Mar, where Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu made the last four.

The 6’7” Jarry, who is 15-11 on the season, is tied at his career-high No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Thursday’s quarter-final victory marks the three-time tour-level titlist’s 10th victory against a Top 10 player and third this season, having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Buenos Aires and Casper Ruud in Miami.

Jarry will face 14th seed Tommy Paul in Friday’s semifinals. The Santiago native won their lone meeting at Roland Garros last year.

Sebastian Baez Defeats Compatriot Mariano Navone to Claim Rio Open Title

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Sebastian Baez has claimed the fifth and biggest title of his career…

On Sunday, the 23-year-old Argentine professional tennis player defeated compatriot Mariano Navone 6-2, 6-1 at the Rio Open.

The fifth-seeded Baez wasn’t seriously challenged by the 22-year-old Navone, a qualifier, in the final of the clay-court tournament.

Neither of the two Argentinians had been among the favorites to lift the title, but defending champion Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka and Nicolás Jarry had all stumbled.

Baez is the second Argentinian to lift the trophy, with Diego Schwartzman the first in 2018.

Baez is set to climb to a career-high No. 21 in the rankings on Monday, from his current No. 30.

Navone will become a top 100 player for the first time, reaching No. 60 after Rio.

Mariano Navone Defeats Cameron Norrie in Stunning Upset at Rio Open to Reach First-Ever ATP 500 Final

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

,” the 30th-ranked Báez said. “We are using this [tournament] to climb up, we are young. I like to play in Rio, come to Brazil. When I don’t play against a Brazilian I feel like a local.”

By beating his first Top 50 opponent, Navone became the first qualifier to reach an ATP 500 final since Jiri Vesely accomplished the feat in Dubai in 2022.

“It was incredible,” he said post-match. “It’s a pleasure to play here in Rio, my first ATP 500. I’m very happy to make the final, my first final. I played so good all week and I hope [to win] the title tomorrow.”

Joao Fonseca Becomes First Player Born in 2006 to Win an ATP Tour-Level Match

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Joao Fonseca is making ATP Tour history…

The 17-year-old Brazilian tennis player became the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP Tour-level match when he beat seventh-seeded Arthur Fils 6-0, 6-4 at the Rio Open on Wednesday.

Fonseca defeated the No. 36-ranked Frenchman in front of raucous fans at the clay court tournament in Rio de Janeiro. He knelt on the court in tears to celebrate.

“This is where I belong. I want to be in these huge stadiums,” said Fonseca, who won the US Open boys singles title last year. “Now it is all about focusing on the process.”

Fonseca, currently ranked No. 655, is expected to jump about 200 positions after beating Fils. Fonseca said he is yet to decide whether he will play tennis for an American university later this year.

“For now I am very focused in the pro-tour, I want to get to the top,” said Fonseca. “That is going to be a personal decision with my family, I won’t make it public now,.”

His opponent in the round of 16 will be Cristian Garin of Chile.

Fonseca’s victory brought some new energy for local fans, who saw three of the title favorites crash out Tuesday.

Carlos Alcaraz abandoned his match against Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro due to an ankle injury; three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka lost to Argentina’s Facundo Díaz Acosta in straight sets; and Chile’s Nicolás Jarry was knocked out by Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in three sets.

Fourth-seeded Francisco Cerúndolo of Argentina advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Spain’s Albert Ramos-Viñolas 6-2, 6-1.

Rain later postponed to Thursday the match between second-seeded and defending champion Cameron Norrie against Chile’s Tomás Barrios Vera for a place among the last eight.

Facundo Díaz Acosta Defeats Nicolas Jarry at Argentina Open to Claim First-Ever ATP Tour Singles Title

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Facundo Díaz Acosta’s wild(card) ride has come to a triumphant end…

The 23-year-old Argentine professional tennis player, a wildcard at the Argentina Open, won his maiden ATP Tour singles title on Sunday by beating Chile’s Nicolás Jarry 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the clay-court tournament.

The ATP said that Diaz Acosta became only the second left-handed champion — after Rafael Nadal — at the Buenos Aires tournament.

Díaz Acosta began the week with a career-high ranking of 87. He’s set to rise to No. 59 when the rankings are released Monday.

“This is yet to sink in,” Díaz Acosta told raucous fans. “I have dreamed about this moment for a long time, working with my team and having my family to back me. It is a dream come true that this happened in Argentina.”

Third-seeded Jarry was chasing his fourth ATP title.

Díaz Acosta’s victory was easier than expected against Jarry, who struggled to compete after beating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.

Alcaraz is now set to compete at the Rio Open in Brazil, also on clay, which he won in 2022

Nicolas Jarry Upsets Carlos Alcaraz to Reach Argentina Open Final

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Nicolas Jarry has claimed the biggest victory of his career…

The 28-year-old Chilean professional tennis player upset Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(2), 6-3 on Saturday at the Argentina Open to extend the Spaniard’s title drought to nine tournaments since his Wimbledon triumph last July.

Jarry had taken a set from the 20-year-old in their two prior ATP Head2Head meetings and showed clear intent to take the fight to the World No. 2 from the outset. Jarry matched Alcaraz’s power from the baseline, made a number of confident net approaches and didn’t face a break point in the first set.

After dropping serve at the beginning of the second set, Jarry immediately broke back for 1-1 and then claimed the decisive break in the eighth game.

“Third time lucky,” Jarry said of his first win over Alcaraz. “Carlos is one of the best players so it means a lot, especially after the battles I’ve had a couple of days ago. It’s been very tough physically, so I’m very happy to be able to come back.

“I didn’t start very well and couldn’t win points on his serve, but I came back little by little.”

In a tense final game that featured several breathtaking points, Jarry went down a break point when he gambled on a big second serve at 30-all, double faulting for the first time in the match. He later double faulted a second time on match point before soon after closing out the win in one hour, 55 minutes.

Third-seeded Jarry claimed the 100th win of his career in the second round when he rallied to defeat Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka in a third-set tiebreak after the three-time major champion served for the match at 5-4.

“It’s a difficult defeat, it hurt me a lot,” Alcaraz said. “There are many things to improve, and my level has to go up. I played good tennis but very far from my real level.

“I felt good physically and it’s important, and I think that with work I will get better… but having opportunities, is difficult.

“The positive thing is that I see that I have a lot of things to improve. Learning that I have to read the matches better, to give my best version in the moments of tension. Today I lacked that in the 0-30, in the break-points, to be able to play differently there.”

In Sunday’s final Jarry will play 23-year-old Argentine wild card Facundo Diaz Acosta, who defeated countryman Federico Coria 6-2, 6-3

Jarry has this week climbed back inside the Top 20 of the ATP Live Rankings and will move to a career-high No. 17 from his current No. 19 should he win his fourth ATP Tour title.

Leylah Fernandez Helps Canada Advance in United Cup Play

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Leylah Fernandez has helped Canada advance…

The 21-year-old half-Ecuadorian Canadian tennis player and 2021 US Open finalist led Canada to a 2-1 victory over Chile in its opening United Cup match on Sunday.

Fernandez defeated Daniela Seguel 6-3, 6-2 before Nicolas Jarry leveled the Group B tie for Chile by beating Steven Diez in straight sets.

Diez had replaced Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was rested with a minor knee issue.

Fernandez and Diez then won the deciding mixed doubles against Seguel and Tomás Barrios Vera 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 to seal the tie for the Canadians.

“I’m extremely happy with the way I played,” world No. 35 Fernandez said after her 73-minute win over Seguel. “It wasn’t the greatest match because it is my first match of the season, the nerves, but I’m extremely happy with the way that I was able to manage it.”

Mixed teams from 18 countries are playing in Perth and Sydney in what doubles as a warmup for the Australian Open.

Last month, Fernandez helped lead Canada to its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup title.

Nicolas Jarry Defeats Grigor Dimitrov to Win Geneva Open Title

Posted on May 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Nicolas Jarry is celebrating a big win…

The 27-year-old Chilean professional tennis player, unseeded in the tournament, defeated Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (1), 6-1 on Saturday to win the Geneva Open final and is poised to rise to his best ranking in a career that was stalled by a doping case.

The former No. 3-ranked Dimitrov was seeking his first title since the 2017 ATP Tour Finals, which lifted him to that career-best ranking.

Instead, the 54th-ranked Jarry eased to his second title this season, converting his first match point when Dimitrov could not return a powerful serve to his backhand.

Jarry celebrated by crossing the court to where his family was watching and passed his racket up to his infant son.

In Jarry’s standout week in Geneva, he beat current or former top-10 players on three straight days — two-time defending champion Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Dimitrov.

It was Jarry’s third career ATP title, all of them coming at clay-court events in the lowest 250-level.

“It’s been a great year after a very tough couple of years. I’m very happy for that,” said Jarry, who was runner-up at Geneva in 2019 against Zverev.

Jarry is now set to rise above the career-high No. 38-ranking he reached in 2019 before a failed doping test interrupted his career.

He completed an 11-month suspension in 2020 after he tested positive for two banned substances, including an anabolic steroid, at the Davis Cup finals. The International Tennis Federation accepted that Jarry was not at significant fault for ingesting a tainted vitamin supplement made in Brazil.

Dimitrov was playing in his first final since February 2018 when he lost to Roger Federer at Rotterdam.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done one of those,” the 33rd-ranked Dimitrov said when collecting his runner-up trophy. “It’s been a bumpy road but I’m very grateful to be back here and to be part of the final.”

The Geneva Open is the last warmup event on clay before the French Open starts Sunday.

At Roland Garros, Jarry will face 160th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia in the first round. The winner could then face 16th-seeded American Tommy Paul.

Dimitrov is seeded No. 28 in Paris and will first play 147th-ranked Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan.

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