5 Storylines From the 2026 Chile Open Entry List (Santiago)
The Golden Swing closes in Santiago before the tour shifts to Indian Wells.
This week is about clay specialists, confidence swings, and urgency for ranking points. Some players, like Francisco Cerúndolo, arrive in form. Others, like 2023 Chile Open champ Nicolás Jarry are searching for answers.
Here are five storylines that define the Chile Open entry list.
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Francisco Cerúndolo: Motivated and in Control
Francisco Cerúndolo arrives in Santiago running hot after lifting the Buenos Aires title. He is also carrying frustration after a scheduling issue cost him a realistic chance to sweep the Golden Swing.
He is arguably the best pure clay player in this field, with a heavy forehand built for long rallies. If he stays composed and focused, this is a tournament he has the tools to control from the start.
Sebastián Báez: Cooling Off or Ready to Rebound
Sebastián Báez began the season in strong form but has cooled during the Golden Swing. He is just 2–2 on clay in this stretch, which is unusual for a player with a 221–102 career record on the surface and 16 clay titles.
That résumé still makes him the most accomplished clay specialist in the draw. If he settles early in Santiago, he quickly becomes one of the toughest outs in the field.
Matteo Berrettini: Forehand Strong, Return Question
Matteo Berrettini is into the Round of 16 in Rio, but the numbers are concerning. He has converted just four of 19 break point chances during the Golden Swing. That is 21.1 percent, well below his 39.6 percent conversion rate over the last 52 weeks.
His forehand still controls rallies and the serve remains strong. But missed return chances reduce his margin. Indian Wells will punish that quickly.
Tomás Martín Etcheverry: Trending Back Up
Tomás Martín Etcheverry is finally moving in the right direction. The 26-year-old reached a career high of No. 27 in 2024, but a 30–33 record in 2025 pushed him outside the top 50.
Now he has won six of his last eight matches, including a semifinal in Buenos Aires, and he is still alive in Rio. The key question is whether he can carry this confidence into Indian Wells.
Nicolás Jarry: Former Champion at a Crossroads
Nicolás Jarry reached a career high of No. 16 in 2024, but injuries and poor results have dropped him to No. 116. He needed a Wild Card to enter this event and has struggled to advance in recent weeks.
The 30-year-old owns 16 professional titles and won Santiago in 2023. If he finds rhythm at home, he has enough power to surprise a field already thinking ahead to Indian Wells.
Phil Naessens has spent decades in sports as a broadcaster, author, journalist, professional tennis coach, and betting analyst. As the founder and editor of Crush & Rush News and host of the Crush & Rush Tennis Podcast, he combines firsthand coaching experience with years of sports media and publishing to deliver thoughtful tennis analysis, tournament coverage, player features, and transparent betting insights built around value, and not hype.
