Davis Cup: With Juan Pablo Varillas at the helm, Peru and the importance of overcoming the series against Bolivia

The history of Peruvian tennis is on the walls of the Exhibition’s Lawn Tennis and this Friday, the Peruvian tennis team seeks to follow in those footsteps. Led by the Olympian John Paul Varillas and its best ATP ranking, box 116, although coming off an injury, the Bicolor seeks to remain in World Group I in order to continue with the chance to opt for a place in the Finals next year.

Juan Pablo Varillas, 26 years old, is the number one racket in Peru. of the 94 that Peru has played throughout history since its debut in 1968. Luis Horna is the greatest exponent of the Bicolor with 15 years playing with the national team.

Precisely Horna is one of those who has collaborated the most in the growth of Juanpa with his work in the national team. Lucho accompanies the Bicolor as part of the Peruvian Tennis Federation. He trains with them and shares his secrets with the younger ones.

“We are in a good situation unlike the last ten or twelve years. ”, Horna recognized us a few months ago, when Varillas was approaching the Top 100. For this 2022, the projections are high. “I see him very eager, playing with a lot of criteria and he has a desire to improve that is admirable,” Lucho tells us.

“It is an advantage to have it. Listen to it, really listen to it. Pay attention to him Maybe he’s wrong, like everyone else, but most of the things he tells you are going to add up and he’s going to do it for something, always for the team. It complements very well with Tupi”, Juan Pablo told us about Horna a few months ago. Thus, Varillas grows more every day.

Along with Varillas are Conner Huertas del Pino, who will take the second singles match to replace the injured Nicolás Álvarez, while the duo will be formed by the experienced Sergio Galdos with the debutant Gonzalo Bueno.

The Serie

Juanpa is the card to overcome Bolivia in the World Group I playoff. This Friday and Saturday the duel will be point by point. The highlands come with Hugo Dellien (28 years old) at the head, ranked 103 ATP and winner of the ATP Lima last September.

Peru has beaten Bolivia in the last three matches, both in Lima and Bolivia (Trinidad 2014 and La Paz 2018), but the Bolivian team has also evolved. From the last confrontation, Hugo Dellien went from 255 to position 103 and his 24-year-old brother Murkel has appeared, who this year has improved by almost 400 positions in his ranking.

Friday – 3:00 p.m.

• Juan Pablo Varillas vs. Murkel Dellien
• Conner Huertas del Pino vs. Hugo Dellien

Tomorrow – 1:00 p.m.

• Gonzalo Bueno/Sergio Galdos vs. Boris Arias/ Federico Zeballos
• Juan Pablo Varillas Varillas vs. Hugo Dellien
• Conner Huertas vs. Murkel Dellien

“It will be a very even series. Historically they have beaten us the last three times, but we have had chances to win some games. Peru is a favorite, but it’s even”, declared Hugo for the Peruvian Tennis Federation.

As Varillas himself says, local support will be vital for this series. “I have been in the team for several years and I know how to handle various tensions. Playing at home with the whole family, friends, the truth is that I enjoy it”, assures the number 1 racket of Peru.

• The matches will be played on the Lawn Tennis of the Exhibition. Tickets are sold virtually via Passline with tickets ranging from 90 to 200 soles.
• Entry for the public will be with a vaccination card. For those over 50 years of age, it will be necessary for them to have the booster dose.
• The entrance to the venue will be enabled from noon this Friday, since the matches start at 3 pm On Saturday, the matches start at 1 in the afternoon.
• For those who cannot attend the Lawn Tennis, they will be able to watch the matches via DTV on their signal 613.