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In a country so scarce in victories, what Juan Pablo Varillas achieved is a World Cup qualification. It is celebrated like that, such is the euphoria. In a country where football takes almost all the spotlight, what Juanpi and his tennis have done is a long elimination that enjoyed presence in a Gran Slam. He tried once, twice... seven times and he made it: the Peruvian qualified for his first main draw of a Major. He played Roland Garros and did it in a big way despite the defeat against Félix Auger-Aliassime in five sets (6-2, 6-2, 1-6, 3-6, and 3-6).
MIRA: Juan Pablo Varillas in the main draw of Roland Garros: what's next for the Peruvian tennis player in the Parisian Grand Slam
Varillas is today the symbol of Peruvian tennis -let's not talk yet about resurgence because there is still much to do- which has new faces, which make us stop longing for the past 'always better'. Today we continue to admire Jaime Yzaga -whom those under 30 may not have seen play-, Lucho Horna -and his great victory in doubles at Roland Garros 2007 and what he did in the Davis Cup-. But now Varillas has a place in that tennis showcase. At 20 years old, he took charge of being the national number one in 2016 -after the retirement of Duilo Beretta-, and at 26 he takes on the role of the great ones with presences in the Grand Slam tournaments. It was difficult for him to be the one who pulls the chain of Peruvian tennis, but he realized that the responsibility was great and today he is the leader who enjoys the Peruvian national team, which in the Davis Cup will seek to qualify for the Finals of the tournament against Chile.
The qualification for a Grand Slam "is a lottery", as Duilio Beretta, who was Varillas' coach three years ago, told us. And Juan Pablo was able to overcome the Roland Garros qualifying round on his third attempt in Paris. Playing on the French clay is the dream of every tennis player who grows up on this surface, and Juanpa has achieved it. He will add 25 points to his ranking, which also helps him in his goal of reaching the Top 100. The lottery goes through the fact that he could choose a Challenger with opponents who are more accessible on paper, and if he wins, he could add 90 points. But Varillas is aiming higher.
If there's one thing to highlight about Varillas, it's the calmness with which he takes on every challenge. "Point by point," they call it in tennis. Less than a year ago, he was the last Peruvian qualifier for the Olympic Games and at Tokyo 2020, he played at a high level against Diego Schwartzman, who warned that soon the Peruvian would be playing in major ATP tournaments. Today, Juan Pablo is in the main draw of Roland Garros. Since Luis Horna at the 2008 US Open, no Peruvian had made it among the 128 of a Major.
While Juan Pablo is a producer of Peruvian tennis, it must be said that he had to leave the country -he confessed that he only spends eight weeks in Peru- to reach the level he has. Argentina -a tennis country- is his center of concentration and training. That's where his coach Diego Junqueira comes from, who accompanies him at every tournament -we saw them together in Tokyo- and this Friday he was in the stands of Court 11 at Roland Garros. That is nothing but investment and projection, something that is still difficult to understand in Peru: sport (and education) is the best investment, perhaps in the long term, but the best. In 2019, he worked with Duilio Beretta, and in 2020, he had a bad experience with the Argentine Pablo Fuentes.
Juan Pablo Varillas is one of the exceptions to the great problem facing Peruvian sports. Turning professional is a big step, and many opt for the safe path of pursuing a university career. Juanpi did the opposite, he left the classroom -he dropped out of his studies without his family knowing- and decided to pick up the racket and dedicate himself to tennis. There are bets that are won with time, and the winnings are measured in joys like this Roland Garros.
In 2019, there was a turning point in his career with his first victories in the Challenger tournaments -he has 4 in his career-, but the start of the pandemic delayed his growth. However, Varillas has managed to maintain his consistency to the point where he is on the verge of the Top 100. Today, when we don't have an abundance of reasons to feel proud, he changed that for us in the early morning. The day. The month.