The best Jarry faces the best: the Chilean’s good numbers against the 10 best players

In Miami, Nicolás Jarry (23rd) once again wrote the history of national tennis. With his victory against Casper Ruud (8th), he not only managed to match his best result in a Masters 1000, but also became the first Chilean since 2004 to reach the round of the best eight in Florida. Milestones he achieved by once again breaking a top ten finish, something he already has experience in.

And one of the most positive statistics of the Santiago native are his victories against players located in the top 10 positions of the world rankings. Even though he lost more times than he won (nine wins and 11 losses) the figures are still striking for a player who has never reached these places on the global list and who has even He added some of these celebrations when he wasn’t even positioned in the top 50.

In fact, their winning percentage against the top 10 is one of the best in the country’s history. If we calculate the number of matches won against these players in their first 20 matches, Jarry is only surpassed by Fernando González, who recorded 10 victories and 10 defeats , leaving 50% efficiency. The current 23rd in the world reached, after beating Ruud, a performance of 45%, well ahead of the rest of the national representatives.

For example, Christian Garin in his first 20 matches against Top 10 players only won three wins, a win rate of 15%. A low figure, but it is even better than that achieved by Nicolás Massú, who only won two victories (10%).

Marcelo Ríos and Hans Gildemeister, on the other hand, have better statistics, but they are not close to González or Jarry. Both have five wins in their first 20 matches against the Top Ten. In the case of Chino, his situation is special, since in his first 11 matches of this type he lost. He then totaled 16 victories and 14 defeats over the next three years (1996-1999), his best on the circuit.

The first time that Nicolás Jarry faced a top 10 was in 2016, when the Chilean was still very far from being a player on the major circuit. In fact, he was 493 in the world and participated in the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro at the invitation of the organization. His rival in the first round was David Ferrer, sixth in the world and one of the great attractions of the Rio tournament. Although he lost in straight sets, in the first set he forced a decisive game.

The first victory would come two years later, in what was only his second match against a top 10 player. The victim was Dominic Thiem, who was then eight years old on the planet, brand new champion of the Masters 1000 in Madrid and recent finalist at Roland Garros. The triumph came in the quarter-finals of Hamburg 2018, where the then world No. 69 reached his third ATP semi-final.

Subsequently, duels against the best on the planet became more and more common. Actually, Between October 2018 and July 2019, he played six matches against the most prominent players on the circuit. He won three, managing, among other things, to enter the top 50 for the first time in his career. Obviously, this was all interrupted by his doping suspension.

After the punishment he challenged 13 such duels, totaling six victories. The most important, without a doubt, the one achieved this year in the ATP semi-final in Buenos Aires against Carlos Alcaraz, number two at that time. By ranking and parchments of rivals, the victory went around the planet. “Jarry has a level that can beat anyone” even declared the Spaniard after bidding farewell to the Argentine capital.

The truth is that the story between the Chilean and the Spaniard has continued over time, since in 2023 they met twice. Both were supportive of the 20-year-old star, who partied in Rio de Janeiro and Wimbledon. Of course, in both matches, Jarry managed to take the set.

The Top 10 he has faced most often is Stefanos Tsitsipas, with whom he has shared a tennis court five times. The results are positive for the native of Santiago, who beat the Greek three times, the last at the ATP 500 in Beijing where he gave him a solid double 6-4.

This Wednesday, a little over 24 hours after beating Ruud, the Chilean will once again face a top 10. It’s not just anyone. This is Daniil Medvedev, finalist of the 2024 Australian Open, defending champion of the Miami Open and fourth in the ranking and former world number one. “A wall,” Jarry said of the Russian.

The test will be difficult, but if you pass it, it will be rewarded. The Chilean has the chance to be the first South American to reach the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 since Francisco Cerúndolo at Miami 2022. Additionally, beating the 2021 US Open champion will allow him to add three victories consecutive against the ten best players. He has just surpassed Alcaraz and Ruud. Your last defeat against a player in the 10-a-side table? With Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals in Beijing last year.

Against the Russians, it will be their second meeting, but the first in almost five years. The only time they were measured It was in the quarterfinals of Barcelona 2019, where Medvedev won 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes. At that time, the Muscovite was 14th on the planet and the native of Santiago 81. Today, there are four and 23. A duel which does not lack ingredients, which will be played out in prime time and on the court main hall of Hard Rock Stadium. Jarry opts for another giant.