Nicolas Jarry picked up the ATP 250 Santiago title this year, after making the semifinals at the ATP 500 in Rio the week prior. This will come as no surprise to the tennis purist. The 27-year-old has shown a high level of ability throughout his stop-start career. There is optimism that the big-serving Chilean could start to realize his potential.
Jarry’s promising early career stagnated after he tested positive for banned substances ligandrol and stanozolol during the Davis Cup Finals in late 2019. He received an 11-month ban. However, he was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the ITF and allowed to compete back on the tour. In 2021 he dropped out of the top 1000, making this return to the upper echelons of the game the more impressive.
The Chilean’s game has drawn comparisons to the likes of retired Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, both players of South American heritage with monster serves and groundstrokes. He tested the mettle of World #2 Carlos Alcaraz in Rio before struggling with fatigue towards the latter stages of the match. However, during the “Golden Swing” he has still beaten notable clay court players such as Sebastian Baez, Lorenzo Musseti, Diego Schwartzman, and Jaume Munar.
The success on the South American Clay will do the 27-year-old’s fitness and confidence a huge boost. The intensity and quality of his matches should will give himself a strong base to build on as the most important clay court tournaments of the year become ever closer. Jarry has previously struggled to make an impact on the European clay. However, he now has a significantly better ranking and showing signs of reaching new highs in terms of performance levels. His imposing ball striking stunned current French Open favorite Carlos Alcaraz, and a sustainability to the performances will give Chileans hopes their countryman can make a deep run in at the big tournaments.
Jarry did not play in either Indian Wells or Miami, with the sole focus on the big clay court season ahead. Should Nicolas Jarry be able to transfer his form to the European Clay, he will be a feared matchup for anyone on the tour. He returns from his short break, to play at ATP Marrakech this week.
