Juan Pablo Varillas was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Challenger 125 in Genoa after losing to Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild. The match ended with a score of 6-1 and 7-6(6) in favor of the Brazilian player, currently ranked 198 in the ATP rankings. The duration of the match was one hour and 26 minutes, marking the end of Varillas’ participation in the Italian tour.
Seyboth Wild took control of the match from the start on the clay court, showcasing great depth in his shots and a pace of play that limited Varillas’ opportunities. This dominance was evident in the first set, which the Brazilian won 6-1.
The second set showed a change in the flow of the match, with Seyboth Wild breaking serve first and making the score 3-1. However, Varillas responded by raising his intensity and reducing errors to regain the lead at 6-5, giving him hope to force a third set. Despite this, Seyboth Wild managed to hold his serve at a critical moment and took the set to a tie-break, where he capitalized on his opportunities to close out the match at 7-6(6), thus advancing to the semifinals.
This victory had an interesting context, as Seyboth Wild had lost to Varillas the previous week in the quarterfinals of the Como Challenger. With this victory in Genoa, Seyboth Wild narrows the gap in their head-to-head record, which now stands at four wins for Varillas and two for the Brazilian.
Despite the loss, Varillas returns to the ATP Top 200, rising to the 186th position next Monday, September 14. This rise represents an improvement of 48 places compared to his position before this stage of the tour and will provide a boost for the end of the season, even though his last participation has kept him outside the Top 200 since October 2024.
After his return from Europe, Varillas will join the preparation of the Peruvian Davis Cup team, which will face Paraguay in World Group I on September 18 and 19. The team, under the direction of captain Luis Horna, will include Varillas as one of its main players, and his participation in one of the singles matches or in the doubles pair will be announced on Thursday.
Source: www.infobae.com
