While covering the ATP World Tour stop in St. Petersburg, Russia last week, it was interesting to view the substantial rise of an Argentine by the name of Horacio Zeballos.
The 24-year-old Marta del Plata native has enjoyed one of the largest jumps up the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings this season, which in large part has been aided by his stellar ATP Challenger Tour level record of 49-14.
By winning five of eight ATP Challenger Tour level finals this season, the right-hander, who resides in Buenos Aires, has increased his ranking by an astonishing 142 spots since the beginning of the year.
Currently residing at the No. 42 position on the ATP World Tour, Zeballos has recently translated his ATP Challenger Tour success into main Tour triumph.
Playing in just his fourth ATP World Tour event of his career, Zeballos reached the finals of the 250-point event in St. Petersburg last week, losing a down-to-the-wire contest to two-time Tour winner Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6-2, 6-7 (8), 6-7 (7).
Along the road to his maiden Tour final finish, Zeballos defeated the likes of Ernests Gulbis and Igor Kunitsyn (two well-established top 100 players) in the quarters and semifinals respectively.
Zeballos' game, which is designed around his potent forehand and speedy serve, struck 35 aces and nine double faults throughout his St. Petersburg campaign.
Primarily earning his way up the rankings on clay courts this season, the young Argentine picked up his first Tour-level win at the US Open this summer, defeating Michael Berrer of Germany in first round action.
In fact, Zeballos claims that hard courts are his favorite surface, and judging by the way he competed in St. Petersburg last week, his hard-court prowess will continue to grow.
Currently holding a 5-4 ATP World Tour win-loss record, Zeballos is coached by former Tour pro Alejandro Lombardo, who also coaches 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio.
Zeballos and Gaudio recently contested an intense encounter in Buenos Aires, a match which Zeballos won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
The significant win for Zeballos in his native country took him into the top 60 for the first time in his career.
Zeballos, who regularly trains with Gaudio on Tour, spoke about his milestone win after defeating his countryman.
“You can not imagine the feeling of satisfaction I have for winning in my country and (in front of) a player like Gaston, who is an idol,” reflected Zeballos.
The ATP Challenger circuit, which runs year round, provides excellent opportunities for budding stars like Zeballos to gain the necessary ranking points required to participate on the ATP World Tour.
Zeballos' diligent Challenger level play, consisting of 19 ATP Challenger Tour level events this season, has assured the Argentine of direct entry into the first major of 2010, the Australian Open.
Beginning the sport at the age of six, Zeballos has a younger sister, Carolina, who plays on the ITF women's circuit.
After suffering his heartbreaking loss to the Ukrainian Stakhovsky in St. Petersburg, Zeballos, who held a lone match point at 7-6 in the third set tiebreak, reflected on the positive outcome of losing his first Tour final.
“I missed a lot of chances in the second set, but he served really well in those moments. Maybe I should have tried to be more aggressive, but in that moment, especially in a final, it was really difficult because I was a little nervous. I’m really happy to reach this final. It was really close, so I’m really, really happy,” assessed Zeballos.
“He played the big points better than me; that’s why he won the two tiebreaks.”
Zeballos, who continues to train in Argentina when not on Tour, trails only US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro and three-time Tour-level finalist Juan Monaco as the third highest ranked player from Argentina. The South American country currently boasts nine players in the top 100.
Rapidly shooting up the world rankings, Zeballos' continued goal of reaching the world's top 30 goal remains on course with a Tour stop in Basel, Switzerland this week.
The Argentine will meet former world No. 7 Richard Gasquet, who is currently ranked No. 57 in the world, in first round action.
There is no doubt that the name Zeballos will be a feature in latter rounds of many upcoming ATP World Tour events. Stay tuned.
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