Etcheverry before debut in the United Cup: “I love playing for Argentina” | ATP Tour

United Cup

Etcheverry before debut in the United Cup: “I love playing for Argentina”

Álex de Minaur, his first rival of the season

December 27, 2024

Tomás Etcheverry’s 2024 season ended representing Argentina, and a new one will begin on Saturday in Sydney in the same way when he faces Álex de Miñaur with the intention of Team Argentina having a positive debut in the United Cup.

“I love playing for Argentina. My last tournament last season was the Davis Cup and now I am starting a new one representing Argentina again. For me, it is an honor to share the team with incredible guys,” explained the No. 39 in the PIF ATP Rankings during a press conference held on Friday in Sydney.

It will be a special edition for Etcheverry in the mixed team tournament that opens a new season of the ATP Tour. Not only because it is the No. 1 racket of the South American team. Also because the captain of the group is their new coach, none other than Horacio de la Peña, former World No. 31.

“This is a new chapter in my life with de la Peña as captain and also as my coach. “I am looking forward, of course, to trying to have an incredible season and, of course, to trying to have a very special United Cup,” Etcheverry added.

A win would mean a dream start for the 25-year-old from La Plata. It would mark his first victory against a Top 10 (for now he has a 0-12 record against this type of player), and it would surprise the best tennis player in the tournament’s host country.

“Last year we played on clay (at Roland Garros 2023), so now on hard courts it is completely different,” he said about his next rival, against whom he has a 1-0 record. “I have to play aggressively. “We are talking about it with my coach.”

“Now it’s going to be difficult, of course. He is now among the top 10 in the world. When I faced him last year he was ranked 30th or something like that. He is improving a lot,” he added about No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Argentina is in group F of the tournament along with Australia and Great Britain. The debut of the South American team will begin at 3:30 on Friday (Argentine time) with the women’s duel between Nadia Podoroska and the local Olivia Gadecki. Then the men’s match will be played and, at the end of the day, the mixed doubles match between players yet to be defined will begin.