Juan Pablo Varillas concluded his week in Italy with a runner-up title at the Como Challenger after losing 2-0 to Croatian Matej Dodig. Despite the defeat, the Peruvian tennis player is experiencing a rise in the ATP ranking, returning to the Top 200.
The match, which lasted 1 hour and 33 minutes, saw Dodig take control from the start, putting Varillas in a tough position. The Croatian secured the first set 6-3, forcing the Peruvian to react to remain in contention for the final. In the second set, Varillas improved his performance and managed to take the set to a tie-break, where Dodig ultimately prevailed 7-5, winning the set 7-6 and the trophy.
Although he did not lift the trophy, Varillas leaves Como with a positive record. He reached the final after accumulating four victories against opponents such as Jan Kumstát, Federico Arnaboldi, Thiago Seyboth Wild, and Jay Clarke. He highlighted his ability to overcome adverse situations, saving four match points against Seyboth Wild and coming back from 1-5 down in the second set against Clarke.
Currently, Varillas occupies the 234th position in the ATP ranking, but his performance in Como allows him to climb 38 spots, provisionally placing him at 196 in the live ranking. His return to the Top 200 will be officially confirmed with the release of the new ATP Ranking on September 14, after the US Open.
Juan Pablo Varillas is now preparing for a new challenge with the Peruvian national team in the Davis Cup, where they will face Paraguay in Lima on September 18 and 19. Varillas will be part of the national team alongside Ignacio Buse, Gonzalo Bueno, Alexander Merino, and Arklon Huertas del Pino, under the captaincy of Luis Horna. The objective of the Peruvian team is to win the tie against Paraguay and seek qualification for the Davis Cup Qualifiers, a step towards the tournament’s top tier.
Source: www.infobae.com
