One of the architectural wonders that will be inaugurated at the Pan American and Parapan American Games Santiago 2023 is the Centro Deportivo de las Raquetas, located inside Parque Estadio Nacional, which inherits all the tennis tradition of the historic Court Central.
The venue, which will count with a central and secondary stage and other three auxiliary courts, was inspected this week by the International Technical Delegates (DTI) sent by the South America Tennis Confederation (Cosat) in order to check the progress of the discipline in preparation for the multi-sport event.
The Brazilian, Ivan Machado, general manager of the subcontinental organization, referred to the new infrastructure under construction. “It is very good, I think the capacity of the stadium is good and we will have everything we need on stage, now it is just a matter of organization, but I think we are on the right track,” he stated.
One of the aspects the former ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors player highlights is the popularity of the sport in the country. “Tennis is fun, it is a sport people look forward to attending and Chileans have a lot of chances to stand out and get a medal. So, I think the audience is a big part of that, to push them to go for that medal,” he added.
Ivan Machando and Rodrigo Valdebenito.
THE QUALIFICATION FOR SANTIAGO 2023
The Chilean, Rodrigo Valdebenito, former press officer of Federación de Tenis de Chile and current technical manager of Cosat, explained the qualification system of tennis players for Santiago 2023, with the champions of the Junior Pan American Games Cali-Valle 202, the Peruvian Gonzalo Bueno and the Argentinian Luciana Moyano being already pre-qualified
“There are many parameters in line. On the one hand, the international rankings are used, both ATP and WTA, and, subsidiarily, the ITF Pro ranking created about three years ago. At the same time, there is a quota per country of three players where the two criteria, the quota per country and the ranking, are intertwined,” he added.
Regarding the countries that will stand out more in the competition, Valdebenito said that “traditionally, they are the ones that have several players in high positions in the ranking. Argentina is usually an important competitor just as the United States. Canada in the female category can be strong. Brazil depends on who they bring. In Lima, the male champion was the Brazilian, Joao Menezes, and the female champion was the Argentinian, Nadia Podoroska. Eventually, there may be something on the Colombian side.”
Team Chile has two consecutive Pan American Games titles in doubles: Nicolás Jarry and Hans Podlipnik celebrated in the men’s doubles at Toronto 2015, while Jarry himself paired with Alexa Guarachi and won the gold medal in mixed doubles at Lima 2019. They joined a wonderful history started by Luis Ayala (gold in Chicago 1959) and the participation of former world number one Marcelo Ríos (silver in Santo Domingo 2003).
“Traditionally, Chilean tennis obtains medals in the different Games in which it participates. The only Olympic gold medals of the country have come from tennis, therefore, I am sure this time Chile is an important alternative as a competitor. It is possible and even probable, but obviously, everything depends on the court,” he projected on the team conformed, in men, by Cristián Garín, Alejandro Tabilo, Jarry, Barrios and Gonzalo Lama; plus, the women Daniela Seguel, Fernanda Labrana among others.
Tomas Barrios
THE BIG PRIZE: PARIS 2024 QUALIFICATION
The Pan American Games will provide four quotas to the Olympics to both single finalists. “But they have to meet certain requirements: a minimum ranking in ATP or WTA. Moreover, that quota cannot have been used by the rest of the players of their country by ranking,” he detailed and recalled a situation in the last Pan American Games in Lima.
“Caroline Dolehide from the United States, finalist in the female category, could not use that quota since there were four tennis players from her country with better ranking registered in the Olympics, so that quota went to the bronze medalist, the Paraguayan Veronica Cepeda,” he recalled.
Everything points that the Centro Deportivo de Raquetas will be the scene for a festival in Santiago 2023, with the dream of tennis players from all the Americas who are looking for a ticket to the five-ring event, including Chilean hopes and the everlasting achievement of Nicolás Massú and Fernando González in Athens 2004.
WHAT TENNIS WILL BE LIKE AT THE 2023 GAMES
Venue: Centro Deportivo de las Raquetas
Precinct: Parque Estadio Nacional
Quota: 82 athletes
Date: From October 23th to 29th, 2023
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