Credit : Le Télégramme
July 27, 2018, under a summer heat take place the quarterfinals of the prestigious ATP 500 of Hambourg, a tournament that has often given birth to unforgettables matches.
As a recent Roland Garros finalist and current world No. 8, Dominic Thiem is not only presumed to be the clear winner of the tournament but first and foremost the long awaited successor to Rafael Nadal on clay.
Tennis is a sport full of twists and turns and 1h57 minutes later, under a wave of winning shots and devastating serves,the the Austrian finally succumbed in front of an outraged audience.
His executioner of the day? Nicolás Jarry, 23 years old, possesses a talent and a potential that may be even greater than his size (6’5).
Jarry making his first top 10 victory at the Hambourg ATP tournament, Credit : Tenischile.
Originally from Chilli, Jarry grew up in one of the most renowned South American nations for the quality of its players.
Names like Marcelo Rios or Fernando Gonzales are indicative of the talent pool that Chile has produced in the past years within this discipline.
Jarry's potential doesn't seem to have anything to envy to his predecessors, as evidenced by his participation in the Chilean selection for the 2013 edition of the Davis Cup at only 18 years old.
Ranked 38th in the world in 2019, Jarry seemed to be on track to quickly break into the top 20.
However, everything did not go as planned, tested positive during a doping test in 2020, Jarry was sanctioned a one year restriction to participate in the circuit.
Tennis being a particularly physically and mentally demanding sport, a lack of participation in any type of professional tournament during a year is synonymous of a significant loss of rhythm which is particularly difficult to catch up.
Jarry winning the 2023 Geneva ATP tournament, Credit : RTS.
While some players never return to their best levels, this is not the case for the Chilean, as proven by his 2023 season.
Back among the elite, the Chilean giant has not only proved his ability to win ATP titles, he has first and foremost demonstrated his capacity to challenge the best players of the tennis world during major events.
Jarry, the not-so-ordinary giant
Similar to the other giants of the circuit ( exception made of Daniil Medvedev), Nicolás Jarry is an ultra-offensive player on every aspect.
While his serve allows him to shorten rallies and save energy on his serve, his flat forehand and backhand shots constantly aggress his opponent.
Jarry is therefore clearly a player who doesn't give you time to strategize as his ball heaviness forces you to back up on the court.
"The truth is that he (Jarry) is a great player, the kind of player who is super dangerous."
Carlos Alcaraz
On the ATP Tour, tall players often perform well on fast hard courts (indoor or outdoor) and on grass courts, which are particularly suited to their aggressive playing style.
On the other hand, a surface such as clay, which requires a high quality of movement as well as a certain variation of play, is generally not suitable for them.
What sets Nicolás Jarry apart from his taller counterparts is his ability to adapt to clay courts.
Jarry is far from having the speed and defensive quality of the clay court specialists, but he is still an overall sharp player who is able to move dynamically on a tennis court.
Jarry during his thriller game against Alcaraz at Wimbledon, Credit : Sky Sports.
Over the last few months, Jarry seems to have reached a new dimension, as evidenced by his excellent results on other surfaces.
The Chilean's potential is tremendous, and his power could well see him break into the top 15 in the near future.
The Chilean's extra-sporting troubles now seem to be behind him, leaving the best to come...
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