The “working class” of Argentine tennis is making noise: it is the country with the most players in the third round of Roland Garros

Without a super figure in the circuit, as it turned out above all Juan Martin del Potro for more than a decade or even a lot diego schwartzmann when she was in the top ten between late 2020 and almost mid-2021, during which time she also reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam-, Argentine men’s tennis had already issued a powerful warning upon its arrival at Roland Garros becoming the third highest representative of the draw with ten players behind France (the local was favored by wild card logics and reached 19 players) and the United States (16).

Even after the first round, the seven winning compatriots awarded the country first place in that ranking shared with Italy, whose growth in recent times is remarkable and evident. But now, with the third round complete, the second Grand Slam of the season offers yet another compelling piece of evidence: Argentina is the country with the highest number of players among the 32 left on the road.

TO Schwartzmannwho had obtained a passage on Wednesday and who will face the Greek this Friday Stephen Tsitsipasthey joined Francis Cerundolo, Thomas Etcheverry AND Genaro Olivierione of the biggest revelations about the world’s most famous brick dust.

Italy AND United States of America, with three tennis players each, are second in that statistic which confirms a lot. And what does it say? At the Bois de Boulogne, tennis in our country is more alive than ever.

Without that mega star that it has been able to have in other times (starting with William Villethe more dexterous lefty, of course) but with a significant number of players, it doesn’t stop attracting attention.

The secret of your tennis

What’s the secret? Beyond the technical or physical problems, the contagion effect. “If he could, why couldn’t I?” Many ask and answer almost simultaneously. This happened, above all, in the years of the best generation. The one that put Gaudio, Nalbandian and Coria at the top. They have done it before. And the others followed.

Then Olivieri asked himself the same question: “If Cerúndolo, who was not even close to the best of our litter, is already an important player in the circuit with relevant victories, titles won and the semi-finals of a Masters 1000, for example, why didn’t I manage to get to that same place? “. It’s just one example. There are many others.

Cerúndolo beat the German Yannick Hanfmann, 65th in the world, by 6-3, 6-3 and 6-4, Etcheverry overcame Australian Alex de Miñaur (19th), by 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) and 6-3 and Olivieri He eliminated the Italian Andrea Vavassori, 148th in the world and also coming from the rankings, by 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-4 and 7-6 (7-3). Now they will face the American Taylor Fritzthe Croatian Born Coric and Danish Rune Holger respectively, to see if – like Schwartzman – they pass the filter of the first week and manage to enter the second, one of the great goals of most players in any Grand Slam.

It is clear that the four survivors have different attitudes. With its strengths and weaknesses. Cerúndolo and Etcheverry represent the prototype of the modern playerof good physique, with powerful shots from the baseline and with a serve that hurts.

On the other side, Schwartzmann and Olivieri -even with their different experiences since the man from Bragadense hadn’t even played an ATP main draw before arriving at Roland Garros- They are the symbol of those who must seek their return to service, in solidity from the baseline, in leg speed and in tactical intelligence. (They have a lot of both virtues) arguments to compensate for their short stature -both measure 1.70 meters- and, consequently, the lower power they have in their shots than most of their colleagues.

Beyond that, the truth is this Argentina is back to speaking at the tennis World Cup on clay. With the utopia of winning the title, It is the first time that at least four Argentines have advanced to the third round of Roland Garros since 2012.. It took 11 years for Cerúndolo, Etcheverry, Schwartzman and Olivieri to replace del Potro, Juan Mónaco, Leonardo Mayer and Eduardo Schwank. This is another more than interesting reason to celebrate.